Magic AM

A man who killed a father from Sheffield has been jailed for 26 years.

20 year old Hassan Maruf was found guilty of murdering Zabihullah Rafiq, pictured, in the early hours of 29th May 2011 after a week long trial.

Zabihullah, otherwise known as Zabi, had been making his way home from his pizza shop when he was stabbed, just yards away from his flat in Gleadless. A post-mortem found that 30 year old died from a stab wound to the chest.

Maruf later fled the UK but was traced to Marseille in France, where he was arrested by French police. Officers are still trying to find another man, Shafiq Habibi, who they believe was involved in the incident.

South Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent Andy Thompson led the inquiry:  

"He was a hardworking, married man and had a baby daughter.

"Ironically, Zabi had previously given work to Hassan Maruf and Shafiq Habibi at Pizza Pronto, on Glossop Road, in Sheffield.

"For at least two weeks, both Hassan Maruf and Shafiq Habibi had carefully planned to rob Zabi as he returned home in the early hours of the morning with the pizza shop’s cash takings.

"Wearing balaclavas and armed with a knife, they attacked Zabi and fatally stabbed him in the heart – only yards away from the entrance to his home. They cowardly fled the area, leaving Zabi bleeding to death on the pavement.

"Both Hassan Maruf and Shafiq Habibi fled the UK. Luckily Maruf was traced to Marseille in France, arrested and extradited to the UK. His conviction for murder and sentence reflect the callousness of the crime. Shafiq Habibi is believed to be in Afghanistan and efforts are still being made to secure his arrest and return him to the UK to face justice.

"Our sympathy is with Zabi’s wife, Zyrafete, daughter and family."  

Zabi's wife, Zyrafete, said:

"We are very happy with the murder conviction but, as a family, we will not rest until Shafiq Habibi is taken to trial and convicted for murder too."