Two men have been jailed for the murder of Tipu Sultan.
Michael McDougal, 47, of Hylton Avenue, South Shields, has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life with a minimum of 34 years and Michael Mullen, 25, of Hawthorne Avenue, South Shields, has been found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years.
At just before 9:58pm on Tuesday, April 7 2015, Tipu Sultan was shot and murdered by Michael McDougal at the rear of the Herbs n Spice Kitchen takeaway in Lake Avenue in South Shields.
Michael Mullen acted as his getaway driver and the pair fled the scene.
The incident was followed by a complex and thorough police investigation that involved hundreds of officers and detectives carrying out thousands of hours’ worth of enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector John Bent said: “We are pleased with today’s verdict. These men will behind bars for a very long time for the cold and brutal murder of a much-loved member of the community.
“I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and our team of barristers for their tireless contribution to this case. I am incredibly proud of the investigation team for their commitment to bring this matter to justice.
“Our thoughts however remain with Tipu’s family at this time. I hope that today’s verdict brings some justice to them however they have lost a much loved brother, son, husband and father and they have to live with that for the rest of their lives.”
Superintendent Sarah Pitt said: “The tragic death of Tipu Sultan had a significant impact for the people of Sunderland and South Shields and the Bangladeshi community here. We work closely with our communities to ensure their concerns and issues are listened to and action taken to help reassure our residents.
“I want to thank the Bangladeshi community in Sunderland and South Shields for their dignity and patience throughout this investigation and I hope today’s outcome helps bring some solace and closure for them.”
Mahsum Sultan said on behalf of the family: “This has been the most difficult year for our family. The violent way in which Tipu was taken from us has changed our lives beyond recognition. Our family is now broken and the pain felt by his loss cannot be put into words.
“We will always remember Tipu as the wonderful father, son, brother and husband he was. We all talk about Tipu to his children every day and they will always know how much he loved them and cared for them. It brings us all some happiness to be around the children who have their father’s looks and personality.
“As a family, we would all like to thank all the witnesses that have come forward in this case, in particular the young witnesses who gave evidence. We know this must have been very difficult for you all but we are hugely grateful for your contribution to today’s verdict.
“We have been praying for justice and today we welcome the outcome. It brings a small amount of closure and peace of mind to help us move on with our lives.”