Ilford shop worker hacked to death and suffered ‘12 blows to the head’ from axe-wielding colleague, court hears

Police searching the murder scene in Ilford Buckingham Road Cemetery after the discovery of the body of Seyed Khan. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

Family man Seyed Khan, 49, suffered at least 12 blows to the head when he turned up for a shift at A-Z Furniture and Carpets on High Road, Ilford, on January 24.

His killer, 31-year-old Imran Muhammad, of Swindon Close, Seven Kings, then wheeled the body in a shopping trolley from a nearby supermarket and dumped it in undergrowth at Ilford cemetery, jurors heard.

Muhammed went on to clean up the blood and he “coolly and deliberately” called the police to report he had been robbed and slashed with glass to “spin a false story”, the Old Bailey was told.

Mr Khan’s body was found eight days later after a search with a specially trained police dog, and the defendant was arrested in Glasgow.

The court heard that the victim's body was wheeled to the cemetery in a shopping trolley. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

Prosecutor Tim Cray told jurors: “The fatal attack was on any view a brutal assault to Seyed’s head and body, with a deadly weapon - a metal axe.

“Evidence from the post-mortem suggests there were at least 12 blows to Seyed’s head which caused fatal blunt and sharp force injuries.

“We suggest the injuries show that Seyed was taken by surprise, there are many injuries to the back of the head, and he never stood a chance.”

Mr Cray said the defendant did not dispute the killing or that he tried to cover his tracks but claimed loss of control following a sexual advance.

Seyed Khan. Photo: Met Police (Image: Archant)

The prosecutor said: “The defendant claims that Seyed was trying to blackmail and rape him and that as a result, he snapped, lost his self-control and killed Seyed.”

But the prosecution said the defendant had lied and it was a “planned and deliberate murder”.

In the weeks before the killing, the victim allegedly told his wife that an employee had been stealing money but she begged for him to take pity.

Muhammed had previous convictions for dishonesty and jurors were told that four days before the attack, he searched the internet for “how to kill a man with a hammer”, with a punch, and “brain injuries”.

The Seven Kings defendant denies murder and the trial continues.