ACADEMIC SENTENCED FOR POLICE OFFICER’S DEATH

22 November

Local academic Benjamin Elmys (41) was today sentenced for the manslaughter of Detective Sergeant Sabih Khan.

Delivering the sentence in Hanley Crown Court, Judge Eustace Thomas said, ‘Benjamin Elmys, I have reviewed the circumstances of this case and heard the sentencing recommendations. I’ve taken into account your late guilty plea and your previous good character. However, the crime you committed was extremely serious, the manslaughter of a serving police officer.’

Before he could pass sentence, the judge’s remarks were interrupted by an outburst in court. A child, believed to have been the ward of the defendant, protested Mr Elmys’s innocence and accused the prosecution’s chief witness, former police officer Harriet Kealty (32), of falsifying her evidence. The child was escorted from the court upon the judge’s instruction, and he resumed his sentencing, saying, ‘I’ve had representations from Staffordshire Police, informing me that Detective Sergeant Khan was investigating the deaths of David and Elizabeth Asha and that you were a suspect. While I can’t make a determination on that investigation, I can use it to inform my view that you had reason to wish the detective dead, and consider it as an aggravating factor. For those reasons, I sentence you to serve twenty-two years in prison.’

Jonathan Patel, a lawyer representing the Khan family, read a statement outside court. ‘Sabih Khan was a much loved son and cousin. He was a devoted police officer who gave his life in pursuit of justice. While no court can ever undo the pain and suffering felt by his family, we are satisfied with the sentence handed down today. We would encourage those who would like to honour Sabih’s memory to make a donation to Police Care UK. We hope the media will respect the family’s privacy at this time and give us space to heal and move on from this terrible ordeal.’

Katie Harper, Leek Advertiser

Extract from Harriet Kealty’s email journal

Justice was served today, but why does it feel so wrong? It brought me no satisfaction to see Ben led to the cells. He looked at me as he was taken away. I’d expected hatred, but there was nothing but pity. Why? Why did he pity me? And how dare he? I’m not the one doomed to spend at least eleven years in prison. I hope I never see him again. He used me, and I still don’t understand how.

Elliot finally broke down, and disrupted the judge’s sentencing with some shouting and crying. Cynthia Hughes dragged him out of the court after raised words from the normally placid judge.

I ran into them on my way out. I tried to apologize but Elliot was so angry.

‘You’re not sorry,’ he said. ‘You’re a liar. He didn’t push anyone. I saw what happened.’

‘So did I,’ I responded calmly. There were solicitors and court officials all around us. ‘You’re imagining things, Elliot. It doesn’t matter what I said. Mr Elmys confessed.’

‘So I wouldn’t have to be a witness,’ Elliot snapped back. ‘So I wouldn’t have to take the stand to tell everyone you lied. He did it to protect me.’