Murderer Mohamed Rahman to be sentenced for street killing of Alan Stokoe
Mohamed Rahman, 43, of Eamont Gardens, Hartlepool, was warned by a judge after his conviction last week that “the sentence for the offence of murder must be imprisonment for life”.
Rahman, who attacked Alan Stokoe in Chester-le-Street, will return to Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, December 14, to learn how many years he must serve before he is eligible for release on licence.
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Hide AdA jury last week found him guilty of murdering Mr Stokoe outside the home of a woman they had both had a relationship with.
Rahman’s trial was told how his 26-year-old victim died after a neck wound severed an artery during a knife fight between the pair on July 21 last year.
Jurors were told Rahman, who insisted he was trying to defend himself, had come up with a "pack of lies" to get himself out of trouble and deflect the blame onto Mr Stokoe.
The trial also learned that Rahman was in an "on-off" relationship with Laura McGree, of Melville Street, who was previously a partner of Mr Stokoe.
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Hide AdAfter the guilty verdict, Judge James Goss revealed to the jury for the first time that McGee had previously admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
He told Rahman, who was also convicted of a charge of a conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice, that he would remain in custody until his sentence, adding: "Mr Rahman, you have been convicted by the jury to murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
"As you will know the sentence for the offence of murder must be imprisonment for life.
"However, I have to determine the minimum term you will serve before you can be eligible for release on licence.”
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Hide AdAfter the hearing was adjourned, Mr Stokoe's family paid tribute to the former serviceman in a statement, which read: “The murder of our beautiful Alan has ripped our family apart and has left a hole that can never be filled.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Victoria Fuller, who led the investigation for Durham Constabulary, added: “As this case has shown, carrying a knife or any weapon can have truly devastating consequences.”