Man sentenced for murdering Cambridge student

A man has been sentenced for the murder of a Cambridge student.

Chas Corrigan used a kitchen knife to stab 20-year-old Mohammed Yousef Algasim in the neck in Mill Park on the evening of 1 August.

Mohammed ran from the scene but collapsed moments later as a member of the public called for an ambulance.

Three off duty doctors and paramedics found Mohammed bleeding heavily on the pavement and despite best efforts to save him, his injury to his neck was so severe that he was pronounced dead at 12.19am.

The whole incident was captured on CCTV camera and showed 22-year-old Corrigan run from the scene.

A media appeal was launched within hours and, following a tip-off from a member of the public, Chas was arrested.

Mohammed, who was from Saudi Arabia, had been in the city on a 10-week placement studying English in the city.

During the trial, Chas, of Holbrook Road, Cambridge, accepted he was the man seen in the CCTV footage and that he had been carrying a knife, claiming he intended only to scare off any attackers and not to use it.

Following a two-week trial at Cambridge Crown Court, which concluded in March, a jury took less than two hours to find him guilty of murder. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place.

Today, at the same court, The Honourable Mr Justice Dias KC sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and six months in prison.

His father, 51-year-old Peter Corrigan, of Vinter Terrace, Cambridge, was also sentenced to two years in prison after previously pleading guilty to assisting an offender on 8 September.

He was captured on CCTV at 9.04am on 2 August removing the blood-stained jacket his son had been wearing from bushes in Vinter Terrace and placing it into a wheelie bin. He also helped his son evade arrest by facilitating him hiding at the Holbrook property.

Detective Chief Inspector Dale Mepstead, who led the investigation from the Major Crime Unit, said: “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Chas’ actions. He chose to arm himself with a knife and carry it in a public place, with devastating consequences.

“Mohammed was a young man with his whole life ahead of him, and his death has had a profound impact on all who knew him. Our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends as they come to terms with this tragic loss.

“I would like to thank members of the public who came forward with information, as well as those who tried so desperately to help Mohammed at the scene. Their actions were invaluable to our investigation.”

Following the trial, in a statement, the family said: “This has been a very difficult journey for our family. Losing Mohammed has left a deep void in our lives. Whilst nothing can bring him back, today’s verdict recognises the seriousness and brutality of how his life was taken.

“We thank Cambridgeshire Police for their thorough investigation. In particular we are grateful to Lucy Bright and Charlie Sermon for their steady communication and support. We also acknowledge the wider investigation team and those working behind the scenes for their efforts.

“We recognise the Prosecution team, especially Nicholas Hearn and Ruby Shrimpton for their clear and focused presentation of the case. We understand that the legal system here is different from our own, but within the British legal framework, they carried out their responsibilities with professionalism and commitment.

“Finally, we thank the jury for their thorough consideration of the evidence and for reaching a verdict based on the facts presented in court.”