Reward Offered
A fresh appeal for information about the brutal murder of a man in Gedling is being launched this week, 20 years after his death.
Ethsham Ghafoor, known as ‘Shami’, was a self-employed driver with A1 taxis, who lived at Forest Fields.
The 26-year-old was found dead in the car park of the Happy Days nursery, in Lambley Lane, Gedling, inside his black and white Ford Sierra, registration G165 NMW, around 4.30am on 22 November 1994. He had been shot twice, once in the body and a fatal shot to the head.
Over the last 20 years, detectives have never given up in their determination to find those responsible for his murder.
CCTV released today records Shami during the last few hours of his life, as he pays by cheque for petrol at a Jet service station at Hilltop in Mapperley. Footage showing the crime scene as it was in 1994 has also been issued, in a bid to jog people’s memories.
DCI Tony Heydon, who is leading the investigation, said: “Many years have passed since Ethsham Ghafoor was killed. We have had renewed appeals over that time and received some information, but we know there are still some people who haven’t come forward, and someone knows who did this.
“It is likely that Shami knew his killer. We think that he was likely to have been surprised by the attack, but the way he was murdered makes it clear that it was a brutal execution.
“As time goes by, people do change alliances, and it may be someone you knew many years ago came home on 22 November 1994 acting out of character or even told you about what had happened.
“There has been a lot of work ongoing, with officers revisiting and analysing previous information, looking at the phone work obtained at the time, reviewing forensics in line with recent scientific development and speaking to a number of people about the murder.
“Twenty years may have passed but Shami’s family live this nightmare every day, with so many unanswered questions. We need the public’s help – that is where the answers lie – we need to hear from you, and I would urge you to contact us.”
Speaking about the anniversary appeal, Aisha Ghafoor, Shami’s sister, said: “We have spent 20 years grieving and suffering for the loss of our brother, my mother’s son.
“We have constantly lived in the hope that one day we will see those responsible for his death brought to justice. My mother’s health is not what it used to be, and we need to know for her sake and ours, why someone would tear our family apart by taking Shami’s life in such a brutal and merciless way. The pain and distress inflicted upon us is unimaginable.
“Shami was a well known and loved member of our family and the wider community. It is likely there are local people who know something about his murder, or will have heard things about it.
“We constantly hope for a new breakthrough or information from someone who has come forward to tell the police what happened that night. We need closure. We need to know why this happened and who did it. If you know anything, please call the police and help us get justice.”
As part of the 20th anniversary appeal, a reward has been increased to up to £20,000 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the incident room on 0115 844 6913 or independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously,on 0800 555 111.
