Northern Ireland

Brother of murdered Syrian refugee praises judge for handing killer life sentence

 Hazem Ahmed Ghreir who was stabbed to death in June 2017.
 Hazem Ahmed Ghreir who was stabbed to death in June 2017.  Hazem Ahmed Ghreir who was stabbed to death in June 2017.

THE brother of a “gentle” Syrian refugee who escaped the horror of Aleppo only to be murdered in Northern Ireland has praised the justice system.

Hazem Ahmed Ghreir (30), who settled in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, with his brother after arriving from Syria in 2015, was stabbed in June 2017 while working as a fast-food delivery driver in south Belfast.

Teenager Callin Wilson killed him during an apparent robbery. Wilson, now 20, changed his plea to guilty yesterday as he was about to go on trial for the murder at Downshire Place in the Dublin Road area.

 Callin Wilson who pleaded guilty to murder.
 Callin Wilson who pleaded guilty to murder.  Callin Wilson who pleaded guilty to murder.

Speaking to The Irish News, Hazem’s brother Rami Ghreir said their parents broke down in tears when he told them a life sentence had been imposed on Wilson. 

He said he was relieved that Wilson was going to jail but was conscious “nothing can bring our brother back”.

“When I told them what happened today, my father started crying and my mother the same. They are in Turkey. It’s hard,” he said.

“The judge made a good decision. I believe now everything my father told me about the law in the UK. The investigation team did their best to bring the evidence and everything to make a solution for the court.”

Mr Ghreir (35) said his brother wanted to make a new life in Belfast after the pair escaped their home city of Aleppo, travelling via Turkey and Greece to Northern Ireland.

Aleppo was at the centre of resistance to dictator Bashar al-Assad. More than 400,000 have died in the civil war since 2011 with an estimated five million fleeing the country.

“We needed to find a new life,” Mr Ghreir said.

“A safe country to start making a new life.”

“He went to Belfast Met to get his English language. He started to search for work. It’s not easy to make a new life in a new community with new rules. He went to his classes and passed level after level and he got his forklift certificate.”

The father-of-three added: “My brother was very gentle, very kind. The smile didn’t leave his face. Everybody loved him.”

At Belfast Crown Court, Judge Patricia Smyth told Wilson that once she has all the relevant information she will determine the minimum term he must serve before being considered for release.

Two charges of possessing a knife in a public place and stealing Mr Ghreir’s mobile phone were left on the books.

Wilson was remanded back into custody with the case listed for plea and sentence at the beginning of March.

Addressing Mr Ghreir’s brother, the judge said she wished “to convey my sincerest regret regarding the death of your brother and the manner in which he met his death”.