Teen Jailed for Life for Fatal Attack Inside HMP Fosse Way

Ashirie Smith, 19, appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday where he was told he must serve a minimum of 17 and a half years for the murder of Mahir Abdulrahman, also known as Mahir Mohamed, who died in his cell in August last year.

Co-defendant Thierry Robinson, 21, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment. A third man, Shaan Karim, 38, was cleared of both murder and manslaughter.

The court heard how all three men were inmates at the Category C resettlement prison in Leicester at the time of the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday 20 August 2024.

At approximately 7.45am, a prison officer conducting routine rounds unlocked Abdulrahman’s cell. CCTV footage played in court showed that, shortly after, both Smith and Robinson entered the cell. They remained inside for just 37 seconds before leaving. Smith then re-entered alone moments later before exiting again.

A short time later, a prison officer found Abdulrahman unresponsive in his cell. Despite efforts from the East Midlands Ambulance Service, he was pronounced dead at the scene around 8.45am.

A post-mortem examination revealed Abdulrahman had sustained significant injuries including swelling to his face and neck, deep bruising to facial tissue, and bleeding on the brain. The cause of death was recorded as a subarachnoid basal haemorrhage.

Prosecutors described the attack as deliberate and targeted, noting that the short time the defendants spent in the cell was enough to inflict fatal damage.

Detective Inspector Mark Parish, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said:

“The injuries suffered by Mahir Abdulrahman showed a serious, sustained attack had taken place which ultimately led to his death. Thanks to the hard work of the investigation team, Smith and Robinson have been convicted in court and will now have to face responsibility for their actions.”

Serco, which operates HMP Fosse Way, also issued a statement. Prison Director Wyn Jones said:

“Any death in prison is a tragedy but the murder of Mr Abdulrahman was a heinous act. Since the tragedy, our focus has been to bring those responsible to justice by working with the police to secure a conviction. I hope the verdicts will bring closure for his family.”

No clear motive for the killing was disclosed during the trial, but the court was told the defendants and the victim had known each other within the prison. The jury concluded that Smith had delivered the fatal blows, while Robinson had participated in the attack.

Smith, wearing prison-issue clothing, showed no visible emotion as the sentence was passed. He will remain in custody until at least the early 2040s.
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