The British Crown Court in Cambridge concluded one of the most widely followed cases in Saudi and British circles today by issuing a life sentence to the man convicted of killing Saudi student Mohammed al-Qasim.
The judge imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 and a half years before parole eligibility, based on the severity of the crime, the defendant’s criminal record, and his use of drugs and alcohol at the time of the offense.
Case Concluded After Sentencing Delay
The court had postponed the sentencing hearing from yesterday to today after completing final arguments and hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defense.
During the final sessions, the defense lawyer attempted to reduce the sentence by citing various legal arguments and circumstances surrounding the case, but the court upheld the conviction and imposed the maximum available penalty.
The convict had admitted to carrying a knife during the incident but denied committing murder, before the trial ended with a conviction for intentional killing.
Final Conviction After Two Weeks of Deliberation
The jury at Cambridge Crown Court convicted the defendant, Chaz Currigan, of intentional murder last March, rejecting his claim that the fatal stabbing was in self-defense.
The conviction came after two weeks of intensive sessions and review of evidence and testimonies, with the jury taking only about two hours to reach its final decision.
Surveillance Cameras Captured Final Moments
The case details date back to the evening of August 1, 2025, when al-Qasim, a 20-year-old studying English as part of a summer program in Cambridge, was fatally stabbed in the neck while sitting with friends outside a student residence near the city’s main train station.
Surveillance footage showed the defendant approaching al-Qasim’s group and speaking with them before leaving and returning, culminating in the fatal stabbing.
The cameras also documented the defendant fleeing, while al-Qasim was seen trying to move away from the attack site before collapsing from his injury.
‘I Only Wanted to Scare Him’
During the trial, Currigan admitted to possessing the knife used in the crime but denied the murder charge, claiming he carried a kitchen knife for personal protection and only brandished it with the intent to ‘intimidate.’
He also confessed to consuming significant amounts of alcohol and using cocaine twice that same night, asserting he believed al-Qasim was about to attack him.
However, the jury fully rejected his account, confirming that physical evidence and video recordings proved his direct responsibility for the crime.
Fatal Stab Wound 11.5 Centimeters Deep
A forensic specialist reported that al-Qasim suffered a penetrating neck wound 11.5 centimeters deep, severing a vital artery, leading to his death within less than an hour of the attack.
Police also recovered the murder weapon, a silver kitchen knife with a 13-centimeter blade, along with the defendant’s jacket from a trash bin near the crime scene.
Defendant’s Father Awaits Sentencing
The case also revealed the involvement of the convict’s father, Peter Currigan, after he confessed in court to assisting an offender in evading justice, and he is still awaiting sentencing.
In contrast, al-Qasim’s family described their son as ‘the moral pillar of the family, a devoted son, and a loving brother,’ while the language school where he studied expressed deep sorrow over the loss of one of its students.
