Bradford man jailed for trying to kill father over inheritance dispute

A man who stabbed his father multiple times with a hunting knife following a dispute over his inheritance has been jailed for life.

Shazhan Hussain, 34, drove to Bradford from his home in South Wales to carry out the attack on April 19 last year.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years and 345 days after pleading guilty to attempted murder at Bradford Crown Court.

“This was a horrific and sustained attack and the victim is very lucky to be alive today,” Inspector Laura Casey said.

“Hussain drove hundreds of kilometers to carry out the attack and had previously threatened the victim for several years.

“I hope today’s long sentence gives the victim some comfort knowing he will be behind bars for a very long time.”

The prosecution had argued that Hussain was angry with his father for remarrying following a divorce and that he had started demanding his inheritance before his father died.

Abdul Rouf, 52, said he believed his son intended to kill him because he would not do what his son had wanted regarding the inheritance.

He suggested his son may have had mental health issues and said the threats had intensified over the past four or five years.

When armed police later stopped Hussain’s car as he was returning to South Wales after the attack, they found a knife with blood on it that matched Mr Rouf’s DNA.

In a victim impact statement last July, Mr Rouf said he struggled with the fact that his own son had attacked him.

He said he had nightmares about the incident and flashbacks when he walked into the kitchen.

The court heard Hussain changed his pleas after a mobile phone recording emerged of him visiting his father’s home in Harrogate Terrace, Bradford, while the claimant was working abroad.

During that visit, Hussain said he disowned his father and made threats to kill both his father and his second wife.

Barrister Gary Bell KC, for Hussain, said his client had formed the opinion that his father had ruined his life and subjected him to physical and mental abuse.

Mr Bell said Hussain had expressed remorse and accepted it was a terrible thing for him to do.

Judge Jonathan Gibson said Hussain had an extremely strong grudge against his father because of the divorce and subsequent remarriage.

He added: “I am convinced that your offense is so serious that a life sentence is necessary and that is the sentence I am imposing.”