Man Found Guilty of Murder After Brutal Brighton Hit-and-Run
A grisly night out in Brighton ended in tragedy when Iftekhar Khondaker, 34, was convicted of murdering Suel Delgado and attempting to kill two others. After more than 16 hours of jury deliberation, Khondaker was found guilty of murder and two counts of attempted murder for a shocking attack in December 2019.
Sibling Accomplice Helps Cover Up Crime
Iftekhar’s younger brother, Irfan Khondaker, 27, was also found guilty—charged with assisting an offender by helping Iftekhar flee the scene. The deadly incident began after an argument broke out between the Khondaker brothers and Suel, 20, from Crawley, along with his friends during a birthday celebration.
Deliberate Hit-and-Run Outside Brighton Pier
Footage showed the groups engaged in a minor scuffle on Brighton’s seafront. The confrontation ended, with both parties going separate ways. But then Iftekhar got behind the wheel of their BMW X6 and sped directly at Suel and his friends as they crossed the road near the Sea Life centre.
- Suel suffered fatal injuries and died in hospital.
- Two cousins, Zakir, 19, and Azaan Khan, 23, survived but with life-changing wounds.
- The Khondaker brothers made no attempt to help their victims, instead ditching the damaged vehicle and fleeing by taxi.
Justice Served After Thorough Police Hunt
A fast-moving investigation by the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team identified and arrested Iftekhar the same day, with Irfan surrendering a few days later. Hours of CCTV review and forensic work placed Iftekhar in the driver’s seat during the attack.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of all affected,” said Detective Chief Inspector Chris Friday. “This terrible act has left a lasting impact on the survivors and witnesses. We’ve provided answers on who was responsible for Suel’s death.”
During the trial, both brothers admitted being in the vehicle but claimed they didn’t see the group crossing the road. Iftekhar denied murder but admitted causing death by dangerous driving. The jury rejected these claims, concluding the attack was deliberate.
“I want to thank the jury, witnesses, and public for their support during this difficult investigation,” added Detective Friday. “Marine Parade was closed for days while we gathered evidence to bring this case to justice.”
