A car driver who hunted down and deliberately rammed an e-bike rider, leaving him to die on the roadside, has been sentenced to life in prison for murder.
According to Birmingham Crown Court, Abdirahman Ibrahim, 21, “weaponised” his Seat Leon after seeing friends Liam Jones and Tayzhon Johnson “showboating” on electric off-road bikes in the Yardley area on August 1, 2023.
On Monday, Ibrahim remained emotionless in court as he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years.
According to Judge Andrew Smith KC, Mr Jones, who was described in court as the fun and bubbly “spark” of his family, did nothing to prompt Ibrahim to chase him.
The 22-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after being rammed twice by the Seat, knocking him off his e-bike and into a concrete post in Moat Lane.
The judge told Ibrahim, of Bonham Grove, Yardley: “After careful reflection, I have concluded that you did drive the car into and on Moat Lane with the intention of using it as a weapon. You pursued (Mr Jones and his friend) with determination and deliberateness.
“You became aware of Liam Jones and Tayzhon Johnson as you approached the Coventry Road and changed direction to follow them.
“Once behind the electric bikes driven by Mr Jones and Mr Johnson, you must have noticed that neither was wearing a helmet.
“There is no evidence that Mr Jones or Mr Johnson ever participated in racing with your car or did anything to encourage you to interact with them.”
According to the judge, the two men realized they were being followed and attempted to flee down a one-way street, but Ibrahim pursued them at high speed down another nearby road.
The officer continued: “Your actions in the immediate aftermath of this deliberate collision were governed by a selfish desire to escape from the scene and involved no care for Mr Jones.”
Ibrahim’s brother, Abdullahi Ibrahim, also of Bonham Grove, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and received a two-year and 10-month sentence.
According to the court, the 22-year-old, who was a rear seat passenger in the Seat, helped hide the vehicle in the hours following the murder.
