£50,000 Reward Announced in Reinvestigation of 1994 Taxi Driver Murder

Thirty years following the murder of a taxi driver, whose body was discovered shot dead in his vehicle with his hands tied and secured to the steering wheel, his sister expresses hope that a “turning point” has been reached. Nottinghamshire Police, who stated on Friday that they are reopening the murder investigation, reported that Ethsham Ul-Haq Ghafoor, known to acquaintances and relatives as Shami, was shot during the early hours of November 22, 1994. The 26-year-old, who was anticipating the birth of a daughter, was found by a milkman at Lambley Lane Playing Fields in Gedling, Nottinghamshire. A reward of up to £50,000 has been made available for details concerning Mr Ghafoor’s murder, which law enforcement officials have characterized as an “execution”. The police force also stated that a team of detectives is actively working to “ensure justice is finally served”. Aisha, Mr Ghafoor’s sister, present at a police press conference, conveyed that the family remains “always hopeful”. She further stated, “As long as we’re around we won’t give up. We want justice. Without justice and without closure, you never see the peace. We know none of this will bring him back. But we want to know the truth.” She explained that the “heinous” murder of her brother profoundly affected the entire family, including a sibling who was merely 17 years old at the time and “never recovered” from the incident. Ms Ghafoor recounted, “He got into a deep depression. He couldn’t understand how Shami was targeted in a way that he was targeted.” She continued, “He had mental issues throughout his life. And then three years ago, he died of a cardiac arrest. He actually gave up living a long time ago.” She mentioned that Mr Ghafoor’s son and daughter each have three children, who “will never know how much of a loving grandfather he would have been”. She has implored anyone possessing information about the murder to step forward, stating: “To have killers walking down the street, openly, not having brought to justice – it’s just unfathomable. We are hoping that this is a turning point.” Harfan, Mr Ghafoor’s brother, recounted his final encounter with his deceased sibling, which occurred just prior to him departing for work. He stated, “I was fighting him for a kiss on the cheek.” “And that was on the night, before he left for work. He gave in in the end, he always did,” he continued. He added, “But the next morning, everything changed.” “My world [was] crushed,” Mr Gharfoon expressed. “I couldn’t believe it.” He described the renewed investigative efforts into his brother’s murder three decades later as “very important,” noting his awareness that his brother’s killer is “still out there.” He further remarked, “I’m very picky on who I become friends with. Because we just don’t know.” “Anybody who we’ve grown up with or whatever, they could possibly be the murderers of my brother,” he speculated. He indicated that he cultivated more friendships in his professional sphere due to the “association of not knowing.” He concluded, “We’re forever hopeful aren’t we? Until the last breath. He’s my brother. It’s my blood. Regardless of what people might think, he’s a member of the family.” According to police, Mr Ghafoor, residing in Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, was last observed in Carlton Square with three Asian men in his black and white Ford Sierra shortly after 02:00 GMT. His body was discovered at 04:30. The police force also confirmed that the weapon employed in the killing has not been recovered. At the time of his demise, Mr Ghafoor and his wife were expecting a baby daughter. He was also a father to a five-year-old son. While several individuals were arrested at the time, no convictions have ever been secured. The force further noted that Mr Ghafoor, who was working on the night of his death, was widely recognized by his colleagues. Officers indicated that the site where his body was located was isolated, particularly during nighttime hours, and was not typically utilized for taxi pick-ups or drop-offs. The appeal incorporates the reward provided by Crimestoppers, offered for any leads furnished exclusively to the charity that might result in a conviction, and this offer is valid until February 22. The charity is urging the public to reach out to them anonymously should they possess any relevant information. Police assert that significant advancements in forensic science have enabled the examination of items from the crime scene, thereby presenting detectives with fresh investigative avenues. The force holds the belief that the solution resides within the community and has requested that anyone with information, regardless of its perceived insignificance, come forward. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin stated that Mr Ghafoor was “probably associating with some members of the criminal fraternity”. He remarked, “I don’t think he was involved in organised crime, but I do think he got himself involved with people who were, and probably found himself out of his depth.” “This is why I think he was killed,” he concluded. ACC Griffin commented that Mr Ghafoor’s family has endured a wait of “30 years for the closure they rightfully deserve.” He emphasized, “Shami’s family can never move on with their lives without answers and you could be sitting on the very answers they require.” “We know that there will be people out there that know what happened, that have that information,” he asserted. He added, “We know that loyalties change over the years, and this is exactly what we are relying on.” “We are hoping that people that felt they were not able to speak out all that time ago will feel differently now and feel able to come forward,” he expressed. ACC Griffin mentioned that “this terrible crime” has been subject to multiple reviews throughout the past 30 years. In 2013, Mr Ghafoor’s family initiated a Facebook campaign to solicit information and aid in apprehending his killer. A reward reaching £20,000 was previously offered in advance of the 20th anniversary of Mr Ghafoor’s “targeted” shooting. Subsequently that year, three distinct pieces of evidence were disclosed by police investigators working on the murder case. ACC Griffin stated, “We have been working closely with Shami’s family over the last 18 months, during which time I have personally met with them several times.” He added, “I have explained to them why we have put together a new team of senior detectives, a fresh pair of eyes, to ensure that no stone is left unturned and that all new and existing avenues are explored.” For updates, follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, X, or Instagram. 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