A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after killing another man during a violent confrontation in a car park in Bury.
Abbas Hussain was found guilty of the manslaughter of Mohammed Isa Afzal, as well as possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
The case stemmed from a confrontation on August 1, 2025 that escalated rapidly outside a football venue in Bury.
The court heard that tensions between the two men had been building for some time.
On the day of the incident, Mr Afzal followed Hussain’s car into a car park on Manchester Road and approached him armed with a baseball bat. He struck Hussain twice, though the blows did not cause serious injury.
In response, Hussain produced a knife and stabbed Mr Afzal in the arm. As Mr Afzal attempted to flee, Hussain chased him across the car park. During the pursuit, the victim dropped the baseball bat, removing the immediate threat.
The situation escalated further when Mr Afzal was tackled to the ground by one of Hussain’s friends.
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While Mr Afzal lay defenceless, Hussain ran towards him and stabbed him seven more times in just a few seconds. Two of the wounds were individually capable of causing death, and one was inflicted to the back.
Judge Mr Justice Lavender, delivering sentencing remarks on on April 24, said Hussain had intended to cause serious harm but had acted after losing self-control.
He described the killing as one that brought “grief and misery” to the victim’s family, whose statements in court spoke of overwhelming loss and a life “shattered beyond recognition.”
The judge noted that while Hussain had been provoked by the initial attack, the threat had ended once Mr Afzal fled and dropped his weapon. The continued violence, particularly while the victim was on the ground, was treated as a significant aggravating factor.
Additional factors included the use of a knife in public, the presence of bystanders, and Hussain’s attempts to conceal evidence by changing clothes and disposing of the weapon and his phone.
However, the court also considered mitigating circumstances. Hussain had no prior convictions, was described as of good character, and showed remorse for his actions.
At 19 years old, he was also considered young, with a low risk of reoffending and strong prospects for rehabilitation.
Taking all factors into account, the judge imposed a sentence of seven years’ detention in a Young Offender Institution for manslaughter, alongside a concurrent 12-month sentence for the weapons offence.
Hussain will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence — approximately four years and eight months — before being eligible for release on licence.
