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Samurai sword vigilante's appeal is refused
A FATHER who slashed a man's face with a samurai sword while trying to scare off a gang of thugs has failed in his bid to have his jail term cut.
A FATHER who slashed a man's face with a samurai sword while trying to scare off a gang of thugs has failed in his bid to have his jail term cut.Hamid Hajmirzaali (41), of Gladstone Street, Peterborough, attempted to break up a fight involving the gang on Christmas Eve last year.
However, when Hajmirzaali was set on by the thugs, he managed to escape to his house and grab the lethal weapon, in an attempt to frighten the gang.
But, as he waved the sword above his head, he accidentally caught bystander Nazim Hussain (57), in the forehead, leaving him needing 20 stitches and a metal plate in his head.
Mr Hussain still has no feeling in that part of his face, and will be scarred for life.
Hajmirzaali was jailed for 18 months at a hearing in Peterborough Crown Court in April after pleading guilty to unlawful wounding.
He appeared at London’s Criminal Appeal Court on Friday in an attempt to get the sentence reduced, but the judge threw out his appeal.
Mr Justice McCombe, sitting with Lord Justice Scott Baker and Mr Justice Mackay, heard argument from Hajmirzaali’s barrister, Charles Falk, who urged them to cut the jail term.
But the judges disagreed, with Mr Justice McCombe commenting on the “horrific” injury suffered by Mr Hussain. He concluded that Hajmirzaali had “overreacted” and there was “no excuse for taking this weapon out on to the street”.
Although Hajmirzaali had no previous violence-related convictions, Mr Justice McCombe said: “The crown court judge’s sentence was well within the bracket for this type of offence. This application is refused.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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