Teenager found guilty after Birmingham father-of-three fatally stabbed in sudden attack

A man has been found guilty of manslaughter after a father of three was fatally stabbed in Hockley last year.

Hazim Al-Bajouri, aged 43 died after being stabbed to the chest by Cyle Crowley on 12 June. 

Cyle’s friend Khalil Henriques and Cyle’s father Carl Dunning helped him to escape the scene and were found guilty of assisting an offender. During the three-week trial, Birmingham Crown Court heard that Hazim and an associate visited Crowley, aged 19 and Henriques, aged 24 at their address on Hunter’s Road to purchase drugs. 

CCTV shows Crowley and Henriques at a bus stop on the road with Hazim and his associate. Crowley then stabbed Hazim before fleeing the scene with Henriques to their address. In an attempt to hide evidence, Henriques put Crowley’s jumper in the washing machine, but it was later discovered he hadn’t turned the machine on.

Crowley called on his father Carl Dunning for help, who swapped clothes with him before Crowley ran away from the address. Dunning, aged 44, changed his clothing again and went to the bus stop, where paramedics were attempting to save Hazim’s his life, pretending that he knew nothing about the stabbing.

Dunning was arrested at the scene and the following day and officers arrested Crowley and Henriques at an address in Birmingham. Officers also recovered Crowley’s jumper which was found to have Hazim’s blood on it. Crowley, Henriques and Dunning, all of Hunter’s Road are set to be sentenced on March 8 at Birmingham Crown Court. 

In tribute, Hazim’s children said: “Daddy we really love you, we are so sad you are gone. “We miss you, we talk and think about you every day.

“Daddy we won’t forget to pray for you.”

West Midlands Police statement

Detective Insp Michelle Thurgood, said: “There was no sign of any threat or physical violence between Crowley and Hazim – it was a sudden brutal attack. 

“Crowley enlisted the help of his friend and father, who even went back to the scene pretending to paramedics he was an innocent member of the public. My thoughts remain with Hazim’s family and hopefully today’s convictions have them given them a sense of closure.”