Pizza shop worker jailed for life after stabbing boss to death
A killer who plunged a kitchen knife into the body of his pizza shop boss is behind bars for life for the 'savage and brutal' murder.
Takeaway worker Andrei Ilie looked on emotionless as he was handed a 17-year minimum term for murdering father-of-two Masoud Esmailian.
The Romanian native fatally wounded Mr Esmailian at the victim's West Bromwich flat just hours after he had started his new job.
Sentencing, Judge Melbourne Inman condemned 22-year-old Ilie for the 'formidable blow' which pierced through his victim's chest.
He said: "Mr Esmailian leaves a grieving family. His sons have lost their father and the opportunity of sharing their achievements in life with him. His death has devastated the family.
"It was a savage and brutal murder. You clearly remained calm and organised once you had killed. You have never shown any remorse.
"This was an attack with a fierce knife, which was used with considerable ferocity. Whilst there is no evidence of planning, this was a pre-meditated attack."
Jurors unanimously convicted Ilie, then 19, of murder following a nine-day trial at Birmingham Crown Court earlier this month.
Mr Esmailian, who offered Ilie a place to stay after he claimed he was homeless, was stabbed in the chest in his Montogomery Walk flat.
The murderer - who had been in the UK for less than three months when he killed the 46-year-old - returned to his lodgings in Birmingham's Caplow Street by taxi and bus before fleeing to Romania.
Police discovered Mr Esmailian's body in his blood-splattered apartment after his sons raised the alarm when he failed to turn up for work at Roma Pizza.
A large bloodstained knife with fabric around the handle was recovered by detectives following the murder on August 28, 2015.
Victim's family: "No sentence can bring our father back"
Following today’s sentencing, Mr Esmailian’s family said: “We’ve waited nearly three years for justice to happen and for the man responsible for our father’s death to be found guilty of his murder.
"No sentence will ever bring our father back or qualify the taking of his life.
“We miss him dearly and have ourselves been robbed of all the future celebrations he won’t be there to enjoy with us.
“We would like to give praise and thanks to West Midlands Police for their hard work and professionalism throughout the investigation and their determination to bring Ilie back to the UK to stand trial.
“The support of our family liaison officers not only through the initial investigation but also over the past few years reassured us that Ilie would be brought to justice in the UK."
Leading officer welcomes sentence
Detective Inspector Justin Spanner who led the investigation, said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a man who was simply trying to help Ilie in a time of need.
“We worked closely with Romanian authorities to ensure he was returned to the UK as quickly as possible to face justice.
“It’s been a number of years since Mr Esmailian was killed, and though no sentence will bring him back, I hope this sentence brings his family the closure they need."
