Halifax double murderer Rashane Douglas will be sentenced in June.
Douglas, 19, was found guilty of the murders of Joshua Clark and Haider Shah following a trial at Bradford Crown Court last month. Jurors convicted him after they were told he had attacked the two teenagers in a jealous rage after seeing Mr Shah talk to his former love interest in a booth inside Maggie’s nightclub on October 1 last year. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Brandon Coup.
He had already admitted possession of a bladed article and his co-accused was found guilty of assisting an offender by facilitating travel, providing shelter and disposing of clothing.
Read more: Police statement in full as man, 25, arrested over murder of new mum Kulsuma Akter
The court heard during a trial that after Mr Shah walked the woman – who described Douglas, of Jade Place in Huddersfield, as “angry” – to a taxi, he returned to the club, watched by Douglas, his co-accused Yaseen Iqbal and another friend.
It was said that outside the club, Douglas was almost punched by Mr Coup, but he dodged this and went to punch him back. In his opening, prosecutor Mark McKone KC said: “Douglas crosses the road followed by Joshua and Haider. Brandon then crosses the road. Douglas then pulls out a knife from his pocket and holds it in his right hand – he appears to hold the knife behind his right leg.
“Douglas stabs Brandon, Haider and Joshua and runs away in the direction of Ward’s End. Haider and Joshua fall to the ground. Douglas runs past the taxi rank. Douglas turns right on Ward’s End onto the road and runs along New Road and appears to discard an item down the drain.
(Image: West Yorkshire Police/Family handout)
“There is a noise heard on CCTV which sounds like something falling into the water. The prosecution says this is Douglas stabbing three men and putting the knife – murder weapon – down the drain.”
The court heard eyewitnesses had seen the incident, with one woman saying she heard “bickering” and “they were all arguing together” and “the black guy who just came over started a problem – I don’t know what over but just started an argument, a minute later he stabbed them.”
Another woman said she saw “three men throwing punches then they all go stabbed and the man ran. He wasn’t backing off saying ‘I’m not leaving the fight’ it was like ‘which one is going to get stabbed first?'”
After the verdicts were delivered, His Honour Judge Rose adjourned the sentencing, and on Tuesday, West Yorkshire Police confirmed it is set to take place on Monday, June 3.
Get breaking news in Yorkshire straight to your phone
Get all the latest big and breaking Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here.
If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here.
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
YorkshireLive
