Two men have been locked up for chasing and shooting at a man in Birmingham city centre on New Year’s Day. The victim, a man in his 20s, was pursued by Christ Lidiu in the early hours before being shot in the shoulder on Constitution Hill. Despite the terrifying attack, the victim’s injuries were thankfully not life-threatening.
Chase, Crash, and Shootout in the Heart of the City
As the victim desperately tried to escape, he even ran into a passing car. But Lidiu wasn’t done. He fired a shot that struck the victim in the shoulder. Afterwards, Lidiu bolted in a getaway car driven by his accomplice, Exauce Mazebo.
Quick Police Work Cracks the Case
- Police found the getaway Seat Leon just four days later.
- Lidiu was arrested in Solihull.
- Mazebo was caught at an Erdington address during a firearms raid.
- Investigators uncovered CCTV and phone records placing both men at the crime scene.
- They had even fought earlier that evening, picked up a gun from Lidiu’s home, then returned to Constitution Hill.
- Mazebo tried to hide his phone in a freezer and planned to flee Birmingham.
Courts Slam Men with Heavy Sentences
Both men vehemently denied any involvement, but after a trial, they were convicted of attempted murder. On Tuesday, 10 March at Birmingham Crown Court, Lidiu, 26, from Perry Barr, was handed a 27-year sentence. Mazebo, 24, from West Bromwich, was jailed for 22 years.
This brutal New Year’s Day shooting left the city shaken, but swift police action has ensured justice was served.