A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after being convicted of murdering his brother-in-law in Watford.
Zaheer Abbas, of Weldale Street, Reading, was jailed today (Friday 11 April) for his role in the 2021 killing of Amjad Hussain. A court found that Abbas had assisted and encouraged his nephew, Husnein Amjad, to carry out the brutal act.
The case was linked to an earlier trial in December 2023, in which Husnein Amjad, now 25 and of Fuller Road, Watford, was convicted of murdering his father, Amjad Hussain. He was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 17 years before being eligible for parole.
A Calculated and Coordinated Attack
During Abbas’s trial, prosecutors revealed that the killing was premeditated, and that Abbas played a key supporting role in the crime. Although he was not the one to physically carry out the attack, the court heard that his actions were instrumental in enabling and encouraging the murder to take place.
The judge described Abbas’s involvement as “deliberate and calculated,” noting that the murder had caused deep trauma to the wider family and left the community in shock.
Justice Delivered
In sentencing Abbas, the judge said:
“You may not have delivered the fatal blow, but your contribution was vital. You encouraged and enabled this murder, betraying the trust of those closest to you.”
The judge added that both Abbas and Amjad had shown “a callous disregard for human life.”
Family Tragedy and Community Impact
The murder of Amjad Hussain in 2021 deeply affected his family and the wider Watford community. In statements read to the court, relatives described him as a devoted father and brother whose life was “cruelly taken by those he trusted.”
Police praised the courage of family members who came forward with key information and assisted the investigation.
Life Sentences for Both Men
With today’s sentencing, both Abbas and Amjad are now serving life sentences for their roles in the murder. Abbas must serve at least 20 years, while Amjad faces a minimum of 17 years before either can be considered for release.
Detectives involved in the investigation expressed hope that the sentencing would bring some sense of closure to the victim’s loved ones.
