A grieving Lancashire son has paid tribute to his "amazing" parents after four men were convicted of killing them in a house fire.
Abdullah and Ayesha Mohammed were brutally murdered by four London men following a fire at their Blackburn home on London Road, on 21st October 2009, prompting one of the biggest murder inquiries ever undertaken by Lancashire Constabulary.
It took the jury less than two hours to decide that London men Hisamuddin Ibrahim, 20, Mohammed Miah, 19, Habib Iqbal, 25, and Sadek Miah, 23, had killed Mr and Mrs Mohammed and will be sentenced on Tuesday at Preston Crown Court.
Last year police were called to the scene by fire-fighters at around 01:15am, where they found the Blackburn house ablaze. The couple was rushed to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where Mr Mohammed later died. His wife succumbed to her injuries a week later.
And grieving son Ashraf Mohammed, 19, who was one of the couples' two children to survive the fire paid tribute to his "amazing" parents.
He said: "No words can truly do justice to how amazing my parents were. They were really the most loving, kind and selfless people you could ever meet. They were very well respected within the family and the wider community.
"My father was a true gentleman who touched the hearts of many around the world whether young or old, rich or poor. He was an inspiration to everyone around him and an invaluable asset to the community. He was very passionate about charity and devoted his life to helping the unfortunate and disadvantaged.
"Those who were close to my father will tell you that he was always jolly, cheerful, extremely approachable and a great friend. He always had time for others and was never shy to offer a helping hand. In short, he was an irreplaceable part of the family with unparalleled qualities and was loved by one and all.
"My mother was also a very friendly and caring lady who had a heart of gold. She was extremely kind and gentle and was always seen with a smile on her face.
"There isn't a day that goes by in which our family does not remember my parents and their loss has left an empty place in our hearts that can never be filled.
"The Mohammed family would like to send out their profound and heartfelt thanks to the Lancashire Constabulary, the Crown Prosecution Service, the fire and ambulance service, the wider community and everyone else related to this case for their support and cooperation through these difficult times.
"The family also believe that there were other people involved in the planning of this and we hope that one day they can be brought to justice."
The investigation saw over 590 statements taken, 1,486 lines of enquiry followed and seized 1,684 exhibits and had over 100 police officers and staff working on the case.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter from the Force Major Investigation Team, said: "Naturally I am pleased with the decision of the jury and feel they have returned with the correct verdict.
"This was a premeditated, well planned and wicked offence committed by four evil young men three of whom had travelled 250 miles from their homes in London with the sole intention to kill.
"Had it not been for the prompt attendance by the Fire service we could easily have been looking at four fatalities. The house was completed ravaged by the intensity of the fire and it is a miracle that anyone was able to be rescued alive.
"The despicable actions of the persons responsible have devastated a family and a community and robbed three children of the love and affection of their parents for evermore.
"I have nothing but contempt for those responsible as even faced against compelling evidence they still attempted to hoodwink the jury by telling a tissue of lies, time after time, thankfully, they saw through their pathetic attempts.
"This has been a lengthy protracted investigation but one that has brought the outcome we wanted. I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and counsel for preparing and presenting the case so well.
"It’s a long time since I have investigated a murder that has had such a profound effect on an area. The local community have proved to be a tower of strength for the family in such devastating circumstances.
"It is very difficult to understand how people can not only go and commit such a heinous offence but to get their intended target so tragically wrong. The Mohammeds were the victims of mistaken identity and that must be very difficult for the family to accept or understand. They have been brought into another family’s dispute with devastating consequences.
"There has been much talk during this trial that this crime was committed as the result of so-called honour. There is no honour in killing innocent people, it is murder pure and simple.
"Lancashire Constabulary will not tolerate any acts of so-called honour based violence in our communities and any act of so-called honour violence will be treated extremely seriously and those people responsible will be brought to justice and put through the judicial system.
"I would like to pay tribute to the family and friends of Mr and Mrs Mohammed. The three children are some of the loveliest people I have ever met and my heart goes out to them. No justice can ever bring their parents back.
"The support network they have had has been excellent and I am sure the local community will continue to rally round them. I wish them the very best for their futures."
Joanne Cunliffe, Crown Advocate from Lancashire CPS, said: "This is one of the most tragic cases that I have ever dealt with as a prosecutor.
"The deaths of Mr and Mrs Mohammed have had a devastating impact not only on their family, but also on the community where they lived.
"Mr and Mrs Mohammed were complete strangers to the men who have today been convicted of their murder and their three children have been orphaned in a terrible case of mistaken identity.
"All four of these defendants bear equal guilt for the murders – the three men who were directly responsible for starting the fire and Hisammudin Ibrahim who put them up to it. It was a planned and callous attack.
"They deliberately started a fire that would take hold very quickly in the middle of the night when the occupants of the house would be asleep and there would be no-one around to raise the alarm. None of the defendants showed any concern at all for the lives of the people inside the house or in neighbouring houses.
"Since that night they have all tried to evade justice by lying about their involvement, claiming that they only played a minor part in the events or blaming each other. The jury has seen through those lies and evasions and delivered guilty verdicts for murder today and I am pleased that justice has been done for Mr and Mrs Mohammed and their family.
"I would like to thank the community for their support and assistance in this case. My thoughts are with Mr and Mrs Mohammed’s children and the rest of their family. The trial has been a difficult time for them and I would like to pay tribute to the courage and determination they have shown throughout the case."
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