The Mancunian Way: An Unsolved Murder

Hello,

Junaid Khan would have turned 36 last month. Instead, he lost his life in an Oldham car park after being shot in the back. He was only 21 years old.

A gunman fired 17 bullets from a machine gun at Junaid as he returned to his car near the Block Lane practice in Chadderton shortly after meeting up with friends and his then-girlfriend.

As he lay on the ground, Junaid was shot again at close range with an automatic weapon. Despite a criminal trial, no one was ever convicted of his death.

To mark the 15th anniversary of his murder, his devastated family have spoken out, saying they “long” for his presence – and for justice.

For Junaid’s sister Raheela Durrani, it still “hurts” as the family moves on without him. The health of her parents – Junaid’s mother and father – is deteriorating “every day as they get older” and she is still seeking justice for their son, her brother.

She told the Manchester Evening News: “We miss Junaid’s presence, his touch and his happy laugh every day. It hurts so much when we unlock new milestones in life and celebrate them as a family without Junaid.

“We still can’t believe his murder remains unsolved and we will never rest until we get justice and closure. The justice system may not be able to help us, but we trust that God hears our prayers and is most righteous in all matters. .”

Meanwhile, the family also released one of the last photos ever taken of Junaid. He was photographed weeks before his death at the Dovestones beauty lake in Oldham.

Detectives stressed that “a case is never closed until we get justice.” “We know loyalties shift over time and it only takes one piece of new evidence to help us get Junaid’s family the closure they deserve,” the force said.

“I’m not going home tonight”

So who had a bit of a headache this morning?

There were jubilant scenes in Greater Manchester last night as England booked their place in the Euro finals with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands. At the AO Arena, thousands of fans went wild as Ollie Watkins scored a last minute winner for the Three Lions.

The excitement was palpable ahead of the game – although England’s performances so far meant there were also nerves as fans took their seats before kick-off.

When the winner walked in, the counters were muted, beers were sent flying and tables were raised as the supporters sang into the night. Ramazani Mwamba was there to witness the celebrations.

New beginnings

It’s been a week since the general election – and a lot has already changed. The UK has a new government, a new prime minister and hundreds of new MPs.

After spending six weeks fighting for a seat in Parliament, the hard work has only just begun for the fresh MPs who descended on Westminster this week.

In Greater Manchester, 11 new MPs were elected last week, including two former MPs. Of the 27 constituencies in the city-region, 25 are now held by Labour, two by the Lib Dems. Politics writer Joseph Timan visited the Houses of Parliament earlier this week to see how some of our new MPs are settling in.

While they are understandably exhausted from the election campaign, they now have to go through “endless” training, learn about parliamentary procedures, set up new offices and even find out where the nearest toilet is. Read more.

Economic shopping

She may be one of the biggest pop stars in the world, but Olivia Rodrigo is still partial to a bit of thrift shopping. The American singer surprised shoppers at a pop-up stall in the city center at the weekend when she was seen browsing the clothing on offer with her beau.

The 21-year-old, known for mega-hits including Driver’s License and Vampire, is believed to have been in Manchester during a break from her world tour and to support partner Louis Partridge as he films his latest Netflix series House of Guinness in Stockport.

The pair were spotted visiting the Lockup Vintage pop-up at Cutting Room Square in Ancoats on Sunday as they browsed the collection of 00s and 90s clothing on sale. Adam Maidment has the full story.

Bolton pride?

It hit several hurdles, but Amir Khan’s long-delayed wedding venue is finally about to open.

After years of delays and rising costs, you could be forgiven for thinking the £16m venue would never be completed. The former world champion boxer was first granted planning permission for the project in 2013.

Balmayna, off Deane Road in Bolton, has now been granted an entertainment license despite concerns from neighbors about potential noise. Bosses at the “opulent” venue have now said they want to make it the “pride of Bolton”. Chris Gee has the full story.

Weather etc

Friday: Cloudy changing to light rain in the afternoon.

Road works: The Kingsway in Stretford is closed eastbound due to long-term roadworks between Barton Road and Chester Road until August 31.

Manchester headlines

• Suspicious item: Residents were told to “stay indoors” as streets were cordoned off by police following the discovery of a “suspicious item” in a drain. Emergency services, along with explosives units, descended on Shawhill Walk, Miles Platting, yesterday. It followed reports that a child, believed to be magnet fishing in the Ashton Canal, had pulled a device, believed to be a suspected grenade. Read more.
• Closing the prison: Inmates at HMP Hindley have been locked in their cells since Monday as bosses battle an “almost tsunami” of drugs. A friend of an inmate at the prison, near Wigan, said they had not been allowed to shower or exercise for two days until yesterday. Read more.
• Camera cutters: Police have condemned attacks on two speed cameras in south Manchester as they appeal for help to catch those responsible. The two rooms, in Chorlton and Burnage, were hacked with power tools within 48 hours of each other this week. They are two of four potentially linked attacks police are investigating. Full story here.

Worth reading

Negotiate the succession of Ferraris, Range Rovers, Maseratis and Porsches flying through Prestbury and you might find yourself one of the best Sunday lunches around.

That’s what Dianne Bourne discovered on a trip to the Cheshire village, famous for its resident Premier League footballers and multi-million pound mansions. Read her review here.