Life sentences for shop explosion trio

Three men have been handed life sentences after killing five people in a supermarket explosion as part of a botched insurance scam.

Aram Kurd, the owner of the supermarket, along with associates Arkan Ali and Hawkar Hassan, set fire to Zabka supermarket on 25 February last year, using around 50 litres of petrol mixed with other flammable liquids doused all over the basement.

Their plan was to profit from an over inflated insurance claim as they set to benefit from around £300,000.

In the weeks before the fire, the men hatched their plans – visiting insurance brokers buying flammable liquids including white spirit and barbecue fuel.

The fire and subsequent explosion killed five people. Mary Ragoobeer, her sons, Shane and Sean, and Shane’s girlfriend, Leah Reek were all in the flat above the shop in Hinckley Road, Leicester, when the explosion happened.

The fifth person who died, Viktorija Ijevleva – and the girlfriend of defendant Ali – was in the store at the time and was part of the conspiracy to destroy the building.

After a six week trial at Leicester Crown Court last month, all three were convicted of five counts of murder and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

And today (Friday 18 January) they have been sentenced at the same court.

• Aram Kurd, 34, of Hillary Place, Leicester, was given a life sentence, to serve a minimum of 38 years
• Ali, 38, of Drake Close, Oldham, was also given a life sentence, to serve a minimum of 38 years
• Hassan, 33, of Eld Road, Coventry, was given a life sentence, with a minimum of 33 years

Detective Chief Inspector Michelle Keen, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “As an SIO I’ve never dealt with a job that caused so much devastation, both to the families’ who’ve lost family members and to the wider community. The impact of this incident is still clear to see almost a year on, and the families will never recover from their loss.

“And all because of the callous actions of these three men who were motivated by money and greed.

“Today marks the end of a long and complex investigation and provides, I hope, some closure to the families whose strength, resolve and dignity throughout the last year has been nothing short of remarkable.

“The lengthy sentences handed down today are reflective of the hideous crimes carried out by the defendants.

“The level of planning carried out prior to the explosion showed they had no regard for human life, and only had one thing in mind – getting their hands on the money from the fraudulent insurance claim.

“While the conviction and sentences can never bring those loved ones back, I hope that it’s of some comfort knowing those responsible are in prison for many, many years to come.”

Throughout the ten-month investigation officers obtained 1,123 statements, carried out 2,583 other enquiries, recovered 2,595 exhibits and conducted 48 interviews of suspects.

Officers also trawled more than 700 hours of CCTV, tracking the movements of the defendants, pulling together the case for the prosecution. Some of this footage has been included in a short film detailing the extensive investigation below.