Two men sentenced for Middlesbrough bus station stabbing

Samura Mahdi was armed with a ten-inch kitchen knife when he and his accomplice, Mohammed Geravandian, went looking for the victim in a busy bus station.

The victim’s girlfriend had previously been in a relationship with Geravandian, jurors heard during the pair’s trial.

Both defendants had their faces covered as they cornered their prey and unleashed a flurry of blows to the man’s body with a knife.

As a result of the violent attack, the man lost a kidney when he was repeatedly stabbed while he was in Middlesbrough bus station.

Middlesbrough bus station (Image: Terry Blackburn)

The pair fled the scene and disposed of blood-covered clothing and the kitchen knife in a desperate attempt to avoid detection.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the young victim also suffered an infection and the blood loss after he was stabbed in the chest and lung could have proved fatal.

Nick Dry, prosecuting, said: “Samura Mahdi was seen to inflict the majority of the injuries, he was captured on CCTV repeatedly stabbing the victim with whom he had fallen out.

“The weapon he had taken to the scene was a ten-inch kitchen knife later recovered having been disposed of, along with bloodied clothing, nearby.

“Prison recordings revealed that Mahdi boasted about what he had done, wishing the victim dead and revelling in damage he had inflicted upon him.”

During the trial, jurors watched CCTV footage showing two males pull their hats down, as they walked through the crowded bus station.

The footage shows a fight breaking out before the victim collapses to the ground after being repeatedly stabbed on November 20 last year.

Samura Mahdi (Image: Cleveland Police)

Mahdi, of Nut Lane, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of attempted murder after he admitted possession of a knife in a public place.

Shaun Routledge, representing the 18-year-old, said his client was just 17 when the offence took place and he was an immature young man with a low IQ.

He added: “The medical report brings together a picture of somebody who is described as vulnerable, poor concentration, low functioning and socially vulnerable.

"That clearly manifested itself during the trial."

Mohammed Geravandian (Image: Cleveland Police)

Geravandian, of Dawley Close, Thornaby, was found guilty of attempted murder and failing to disclose the pin code for his mobile phone after it was recovered.

Rod Hunt, representing the 21-year-old, said his client didn't inflict any of the stab wounds on the young victim and fled the scene when he realised the extent of the his injuries.

He added: "There are two ways of looking at his early exit - he was just frightened and ran away, another way is that he came to his senses and realised what an awful thing had transpired and he wanted no more of it."

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced the pair to 24 years for the attempted murder with Geravandian sentenced to a further nine months for failing to disclose the pin number of his mobile phone.

“These two acted together and committed the offence of attempted murder. They were tried by a jury and convicted,” he said.

“The entered the bus station, they clearly knew who they were looking for, they masked themselves up as they did so and they had a weapon with them.”

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Inspector Chris Pringle, from Cleveland Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “This was a premeditated attack to murder a teenage boy and his girlfriend.

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“The pair concealed their identity before brazenly walking into a busy bus station to commit violence in front of numerous members of the public.

“To try and protect himself as well as his girlfriend, the victim fought the attackers, however he was struck numerous times. His bravery in that moment meant they were both lucky to have survived but will live with the trauma of what took place that day for a long time. 

“We also have a teenager and a young person going to prison for a long time and that should serve as a stark reminder that no good can come from carrying a knife.

"Not only is it illegal and you could be jailed if found in possession of one – but it can have tragic consequences that could cause serious harm including the loss of life.”