Driver who used car as weapon to murder e-bike rider in Birmingham is jailed

A man who used his car as a weapon to chase and kill an e-bike rider has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years.

Abdirahman Ibrahim was found guilty of the murder of Liam Jones in Birmingham by a jury in February.

The 22-year-old victim and a friend were seen "showboating" and doing wheelies shortly before Mr Jones was rammed off his bike into a concrete post, a court heard.

Mr Jones suffered serious chest and abdominal injuries and died at the scene after Ibrahim drove into the back of his electric bike twice in Sheldon.

Passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Andrew Smith KC said it must have been clear to Ibrahim that Mr Jones was not wearing a helmet prior to his death in Yardley, shortly before midnight on 1 August 2023.

The judge told 21-year-old Ibrahim: "After careful reflection I have concluded that you did drive the car into and on Moat Lane such that you had the car available as a weapon.

"You pursued (Mr Jones and his friend) in a determined and deliberate way."

Police previously said they believed Ibrahim was "angered by Liam's showboating and wanted to teach him a lesson".

Ibrahim's brother Abdullahi, 21, was a passenger in the Seat Leon and previously pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

The court heard how they first came across Mr Jones and a friend who were riding their bikes shortly before midnight on Coventry Road on 1 August 2023.

Ibrahim was initially travelling in the opposite direction, but then turned at a roundabout and started to follow the bike riders.

CCTV footage showed the car close to Mr Jones, who performed a "stand-up wheelie" in front of the vehicle.

A pursuit then began, which ended with Ibrahim mowing Mr Jones down in Moat Lane.

Ibrahim then fled the scene and parked his car in Golden Hillock Road, Sparkbrook, while his brother called for a taxi to take them home.

West Midlands Police said during their journey, the pair "casually stopped off at a shop in Coventry Road".

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The force said the brothers then split up, with Abdullahi Ibrahim returning to the car, which was later found parked near the Jewellery Quarter.

He returned home in a taxi at just before 3am.

By this point, West Midlands Police said officers had already identified the vehicle involved and went to the brothers' then home address in Yardley.

When officers arrived, Abdirahman Ibrahim was said to have told a number of lies about where his car was.

(c) Sky News 2025: Driver who used car as weapon to murder e-bike rider in Birmingham is jailed