A murderer who was dragged back from Pakistan to face justice will serve at least 28 years behind bars.
Abdul Ahsan was 18 when he shot Andre Marshall seven times before leaving him to die in a car park in Urmston in 2015. Ahsan, now 28, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the aftermath of the gangland execution, but fled to Pakistan.
He only arrived back in the UK in January following lengthy extradition proceedings. Now, after he was unanimously convicted of murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court, Ahsan has been handed a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 28 years in jail. He will be in his 50s before he can be considered for release.
READ MORE: Gunman who murdered Gooch Gang member in gangland execution is sentenced
Andre’s mother Patricia Ali bravely told of her devastation at her loss during Ahsan’s sentencing hearing. After the hearing, she told the M.E.N.: “This is now a time for healing, reflection and growth, and for Andre to rest in peace.”
Prosecutors described the brutal murder as an ‘execution style killing’ committed ‘against a background of gang crime’. Andre was said to have been a member of the Gooch Gang.
Ahsan had been acting as a courier for him in the months prior to the killing. The judge said he was sure that more sophisticated criminals had ‘prevailed upon’ Ahsan to shoot Andre dead.
“This was a brutal shotgun murder carried out against the background of drug dealing and gang rivalries,” Mr Justice Jay said. “The inference I draw is that enemies of Andre Marshall, possibly in a rival gang, supplied you with the gun and persuaded you to carry out this killing.
“Why some people wanted Andre Marshall eliminated in this terrible fashion is unclear.” Ahsan, formerly of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, skipped bail after being arrested in the days following the murder, and fled the UK for Pakistan. He claimed he left the country after fearing that his ‘life was in danger’.
Extradition details emerge
Following the sentencing hearing, more details emerged of how Ahsan came to be brought back to the UK to appear before the courts. Detective Sergeant Chris Doggart, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “It is a lengthy process trying to get someone extradited from Pakistan, as the UK does not have an official extradition treaty with them. However, in some cases, you can contact the relevant authorities through the UK’s Home Office and ask them to have someone returned.
“And that’s exactly what we did in this case. We worked with the Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and National Crime Agency Extradition Unit to prepare the paperwork, with our help, and submit it to Pakistan authorities.
“They then launched a search to try and find him and apprehended him in their country in 2017 and arrested him for the purposes of extradition. He then lodged a number of appeals and was subsequently released on bail – still in Pakistan.
“Unfortunately, he skipped bail again and went on the run once more. He was finally located, still in Pakistan, in 2022 for breaching his bail conditions. The extradition process began, and he landed in Heathrow Airport and transferred to Manchester custody in January of this year.
“Time and distance are not barriers to justice. Anyone who thinks that they have a shot at freedom by skipping the country is sorely mistaken. We will find you.”
DS Doggart added: “I think the message today is clear: you can run but you can’t hide. Our investigation has always remained focused on finding Ahsan and bringing him to justice. Today, we can say we have done just that.
“This was a horrifically violent crime in which a young man has sadly lost his life. We do not condone the use of firearms on the streets of Manchester and as such, today’s result was right and just.
“Our thoughts remain with Andre’s family. They have remained brave and stoic throughout, although reliving the events of that night and the tragic details of what happened to their son has been heartbreaking for them.
“We have remained dedicated to them, in bringing Ahsan to court to face justice and we hope that today’s result allows them to begin their healing process. In the nine years since Andre’s murder, our work hasn’t stopped, as we have fought to get Ahsan back to the UK.”
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