24 October 2025

Court of Appeal Reduces Sentences in R v Mahek Bukhari & Others

The Court of Appeal has reduced several sentences imposed following the tragic deaths of Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, who died in a crash on the A46 in Leicestershire in February 2022.

The appeal, heard before Lord Justice Warby, Mr Justice Lavender and Her Honour Judge de Bertodano, involved applications from Mahek Bukhari, Ameer Jamal, Sanaf Gulammustafa and Natasha Akhtar.

Sahota & Sahota Solicitors represented Mr Sanaf Gulammustafa in the two trials at Leicester Crown Court and the complex Appeal process, instructing Mr Balraj Bhatia KC of 1 High Pavement Chambers and Mr Sukhdev Garcha of Priory Court Chambers.

Mr Gulammustafa was found not guilty of the two counts of Murder he faced but convicted of the lesser charges of manslaughter in August 2023.

At the original sentencing, TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari and her mother Ansreen Bukhari received life sentences for murder (minimum terms of 31 years 8 months and 26 years 9 months respectively).

Raees Jamal and Rekan Karwan also received life sentences for murder, while Ameer Jamal and Sanaf Gulammustafa were sentenced for manslaughter to 15 years, and Natasha Akhtar to 12 years.

The Court of Appeal heard the Appeals on 17th October 2025 and handed down their judgement on 24th October 2025. The Court of Appeal found the original sentences “manifestly excessive,” reducing them to:

  • Sanaf Gulammustafa: 15 years down to 12 years 9 months
  • Mahek Bukhari: 31 years 8 months down to 26 years and 285 days
  • Ameer Jamal: 15 years down to 12 years 8 months
  • Natasha Akhtar: 9 years 8 months

The Court highlighted that too little weight was given to the defendants’ youth, immaturity and lesser roles played in this tragic incident.

Ansreen Bukhari and Raees Jamal did not pursue their appeals.

A copy of the Judgment can be viewed at: Rex -v- Mahek Bukhari and others – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Sahota & Sahota Solicitors’ Appeals Department handles new appeal matters on a privately funded basis, working closely with the country’s leading King’s Counsel and barristers.

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Visit us: Sahota & Sahota Solicitors, 25 New Walk, Leicester, LE1 6TE

TikTok influencer has ‘wholly disproportionate’ double murder sentence reduced | The Independent

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