Three men have been convicted of the murder of a businessman whose body was found in a flat above his takeaway.
Sarwar Gader (35), of Gleneagles Avenue, Rushey Mead, Leicester, and Wali Khan (32) and Naveed Naveed (28), both St Stephen's Road, Highfields, in the city, were found guilty yesterday of murdering Dogan Dogan.
The 50-year-old was found in the flat above his takeaway, Aladdin, in Linton Street, off Evington Road, Leicester, on January 8.
Mr Dogan suffocated after being tied up and gagged in a robbery. He had injuries including broken ribs and a black eye.
Takings of about £1,000 from Aladdin's and his other business, Pizzaman, in Church Street, Lutterworth, were missing.
The murder trial at Birmingham Crown Court concluded yesterday with a jury returning guilty verdicts against all three men.
Mr Dogan's family burst into tears when the unanimous verdicts were announced. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a four-week trial.
The guilty men were due to be sentenced today.
Naveed and Gader were also found guilty of robbery. Khan had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.
Mr Dogan's body was found by two members of staff when they arrived for work.
His hands and feet were tied with twine. A towel and clothing had been tied over his face, which had suffocated him .
The trial heard Naveed's car was seen being driven away from the scene in the early hours of January 8.
Police were initially set on the killers' trail after they recovered a set of Mr Dogan's keys, which had been spotted being throwing from the vehicle as it drove around Leicester.
Naveed and Khan were arrested a week later and found to be in possession of Mr Dogan's phone. Gader was arrested a week after that.
The men gave conflicting accounts of their movements on the evening of the attack and tried to blame each other for the death. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies, who led the investigation, said: "I am pleased that, after a lengthy trial, these three men have been convicted for the role they played in the murder of Mr Dogan.
"Mr Dogan was a much-loved husband and father. Sadly, he never got to meet his grandchild, who was born shortly after he died.
"I would like to thank the family, who have shown tremendous dignity and support for the police investigation throughout this case.
"They have been left devastated and I hope this outcome will bring them some small form of comfort that those responsible for his murder have been brought to justice."
Judge Henry Globe QC had thanked the jury for their concentration "in a hearing that lasted considerably longer than estimated".
He said: "You have been here for over four weeks and I am prepared, should you wish, to ensure you are excused from jury service in the future."
Mr Dogan's family made no comment yesterday.
In a statement issued through Leicestershire Police at the time of his death, they said: "Our husband and father was a well-respected family man whose only goal in life was to secure the future of his family.
"He was very well liked and trusted within the community."
