The Court of Appeal is considering a reduction in the sentence of Mahek Bukhari, a TikTok influencer convicted of double murder in a high-speed car chase. Her defense argues that her initial 31-year sentence did not adequately account for the victim's actions and her age.
The Court of Appeal is currently reviewing the sentencing of Mahek Bukhari, a TikTok influencer convicted of murdering her mother's toyboy lover and his friend in a high-speed car chase . Bukhari was initially sentenced to a minimum of 31 years in prison in September 2023 for her role in the deaths of Saqib Hussain and Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin. The prosecution argued that Bukhari recruited individuals to confront the victims before the fatal incident in February 2022.
Her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, was also found guilty and received a minimum 26-year sentence for plotting the murder of Mr. Hussain, who had blackmailed her with threats of exposing their three-year affair to her family. The events leading to the murders unfolded after Mr. Hussain threatened to release sexually explicit material of Ansreen if she did not provide him with £3,000, allegedly spent on their relationship. The prosecution's case detailed how the victims were lured to a Tesco car park in Leicester under the guise of returning the money, only to be ambushed by the Bukharis and their accomplices. The victims' vehicle was rammed off the road during a high-speed pursuit on the A46, resulting in a fiery crash that claimed their lives.\Defense barristers are now arguing for a reduced sentence for Mahek Bukhari, asserting that the original sentencing did not adequately consider the circumstances preceding the murder, particularly Mr. Hussain's alleged 'controlling behavior' towards her mother. Christopher Millington KC, representing Mahek, stated that Mr. Hussain's intimidating messages had a 'direct evidential bearing' on their decision to travel to Leicester for the meeting and that these factors should have been reflected in the sentencing. He contends that Mr. Hussain's actions, which included threats to release sexually explicit material, contributed significantly to the events. Millington also argued that the killing was a 'heat of the moment' act rather than a premeditated murder. He highlighted Mahek's age at the time of the offense and her lack of maturity as mitigating factors that should have influenced the sentencing, concluding that the current sentence is 'wholly disproportionate.' The 999 call made by Mr. Hussain moments before his death, in which he reported being 'rammed off the road,' and forensic analysis confirming speeds of up to 100 mph during the chase, were key pieces of evidence presented during the initial trial.\During the appeal hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service, represented by Collingwood Thompson KC, acknowledged the existence of blackmail by Mr. Hussain as a relevant factor. However, Thompson maintained that the sentence should not be reduced. He pointed out that the option of going to the police was available, but a 'conscious decision' was made to handle the situation differently. He argued that the sentence, while severe, was not excessive considering the gravity of the crime. Judge Timothy Spencer KC, during the initial sentencing, criticized Mahek's self-obsession and sense of entitlement stemming from her social media fame. The case involved multiple individuals found guilty, with two others also convicted of murder and three more found guilty of manslaughter. The defense's appeal hinges on a re-evaluation of the circumstances leading up to the murders, emphasizing the impact of Mr. Hussain's actions and Mahek's relative youth and immaturity. The court is now deliberating on the validity of these arguments and whether they warrant a reduction in the influencer's prison sentence
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