The son of a Huddersfield taxi driver brutally murdered by racist teen thugs has spoken of the family’s shock after one of his killers won a cut in his jail term – because of his good behaviour in prison.
Mohammed Parvaiz, 41, was beaten to death in a vicious attack by the gang who lured him down a cul-de-sac in Golcar in July, 2006.
The Examiner reported on Friday how one of the four killers Steven Utley, formerly of Elmfield Avenue, Golcar, had seen his 17-year sentence reduced to 15 years after a court heard of his “progress” behind bars.
Utley was just 17 when he was sent down for murder alongside Christopher Murphy, 18, Michael Hand, 19, and 17-year-old Graeme Slavin.
Writing on Facebook, Mohammed’s son Ismaeel, who was just 12 at the time of the attack, said: “This has brought back all the pain and anguish we went through 10 years ago. Is this fair? No!
“Someone who has put a family through so much difficulty and hardship should not be released from prison simply on the basis they have behaved good in prison.”
Ismaeel paid tribute to his father and added: “My dad was the most beautiful father, husband and man anybody could ask for. He never wronged people in life and was always going out of his way to make people smile.
News editor Neil Atkinson remembers the 'horrific' murder of Mr Parvaiz
“My dad was in his prime and had so much life ahead of him with his family. I was 12, my sister was eight and my brother had just turned three.
“My brother and sister and me have missed out on so many years we were supposed to have together as a family.
“My brother does not know until today how his dad was taken from him. I have to sit with him in the next few days and explain why his dad isn’t here to wish him goodnight and put him to bed on a night.”
Utley’s earliest release date was brought forward to December 2022 at a Royal Courts of Justice hearing in London.
Mr Justice Goss said Utley had done “everything in his power” to turn his life around since being sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in 2007.
But Ismaeel added: “We have adjusted to what has happened but never been able to have that complete closure and get over it.”
