Man guilty of 'gentle giant' hammer murder

Mohammed Khan, 35, bludgeoned 50-year-old David Read at his home

A man has been found guilty of murdering of a man in his own flat using a hammer and a pair of scissors.

Mohammed Khan, 35, bludgeoned 50-year-old David Read at his home on Leamington Road, Blackburn, between 6 and 7 June.

Mr Read was found by a family member on 7 June with more than 100 injuries all over his body.

In a tribute, Mr Read was described as " a gentle giant" by his family.

David Read was subjected to a "brutal attack", prosecutors said

Khan, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, was found guilty of murder following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Read's injuries were consistent with being struck multiple times with a hammer and scissors and having been punched and kicked.

The Crown Prosecution Service said a pair of scissors with Khan's DNA on it were found at the flat.

Khan was captured on CCTV entering Mr Read's flat at 21:40 BST on 6 June, which he left and re-entered on several occasions before leaving at 9:00 BST on 7 June, wearing different clothing and carrying bags, the CPS said.

CCTV also recorded Khan discarding items at various locations.

'Brutal attack'

A claw hammer, Mr Read's phone and the jacket Khan had been wearing were later found and Khan was arrested and later charged.

Alex Williams, senior crown prosecutor for the North West, said: “Mohammed Khan subjected David Read to a prolonged and brutal attack in his own home.

“It was the prosecution case that Khan had not acted in self-defence as he claimed, but he had intended to kill Mr Read when he used weapons, plus his fists and feet to inflict in excess of a hundred injuries.

“Our thoughts remain with Mr Read’s family at this difficult time. We hope that Khan’s conviction today brings some measure of comfort to them.”