Three jailed for refugee murder
01 November 1993
Three white youths have been jailed for life after being found guilty of beating an Afghani refugee, Ruhullah Aramesh, 24, to death in Thornton Heath, south London in July 1992 (see Statewatch 2:5).
Ruhullah had gone to a nearby shop with family and friends and had objected when one of a gang of white youths sexually assaulted a female companion. The youths followed the family home. Outside the Aramesh house they were joined by other gang members from a nearby public house, The Bricklayers Arms, who shouted racist abuse. Believing that one of his friends was trapped by the gang, Ruhullah left the house to assist him.
Outside he was confronted by about twenty youths armed with iron bars, bricks and wooden clubs. The gang attacked him and beat him to the ground where his head was smashed by several deliberate blows. Ruhullah suffered severe brain damage and died two days later in hospital.
The three convicted youths are Joseph Curtin from Wallington, and brothers Barry and Paul Hannon from Thornton Heath. A fourth youth, Thomas Hogan, from Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath, was found guilty of indecent assault on a friend of Mr Aramesh. Following his conviction Barry Hannon leapt from the well of the court and attacked a policeman before being restrained.
Paul Hannon, along with other members of the gang, had been involved in earlier racist attack in nearby Croydon, in which a 64-year old man was hit over the head with a bottle. He required several stitches.
Sutton Guardian 25.11.93; Croydon Advertiser 25.11.93.