On Wednesday, December 20, 2023 a judge lifted reporting restrictions to allow 16-year-old Kamil Serba to be named for the murder of 25-year-old Ashish Nahar who was stabbed in the heart.
Police were called to Jubilee Park, off Canvin Way in Bedford, at around 8.45pm on Thursday, June 29, this year after receiving a report that a man had been stabbed.
Ashish had been walking through the park with his friend when they saw a group of males, who he interacted with as he asked if they had any Rizla paper for his roll-up cigarette.
The two then sat on a bench to smoke but as they started walking again, a boy on a bike rode up behind them, threw his bike to the floor, and proceeded to stab Ashish in the chest before riding away.
Ashish’s friend called for an ambulance before trying to get help from people passing by in the park, but he was sadly pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
A family tribute to Ashish, which was read out in court, said: “He grew into such a man, sharing happiness in everyone’s life who he met, socialising with everyone.
“He didn’t care what age you were, who you were or what your background was. All he wanted to do was help people, make people laugh and be loved the way he loved everyone.”
A postmortem found Mr Nahar’s cause of death to be a single stab wound to the heart. It also found that he did not have an opportunity to defend himself.
Serba was identified as a suspect, arrested the following day and subsequently charged with murder.
CCTV footage showed Serba cycling towards some bushes before approaching Ashish and his friend. He is then seen leaving the park at speed on his bike.
There was also further CCTV footage at Serba’s home address which captured his movements on the day Ashish was stabbed.
When officers searched the house, they found clothing that matched what he was wearing on the CCTV footage.
His bike was recovered by detectives, while Serba also burnt the mask and some of the clothes he was wearing.
At a hearing at Luton Crown Court last month, Serba pleaded guilty to murder and on Wednesday, December 2023, he was jailed at the same court for at least 14-and-a-half years.
During the hearing, Judge Michael Simon said: “Nothing this court can do will mend the broken hearts or remunerate the distress on Ashish’s family.
“This was no random attack. Having stabbed Ashish you rode away and simply returned home.”
He also commended the officers involved in the case for their hard work and support.
DECEMBER 2023 EDITIONS ON LINE HERE:
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