Sisters who helped Cole Kershaw murderer flee the country jailed

Husna Khan, formerly of Winsford, and her sister Farah Khan have been sentenced to two years and six months.

It comes following their role in helping their brother, Khayam Ali Khurshid, evade capture following the murder of Cole Kershaw in August 2020.

Detective Inspector Marc Barker from our Serious Crime Division said: “It has been just over four years since the fatal attack, and our goal has always been to provide answers and some sense of justice for Cole’s family and friends.

“This was an extensive investigation, but I am pleased that all those involved in this cowardly attack are now behind bars.”

Mohammed Izaarh Khan, Khayam Ali Khurshid and Kamran Mohammed (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

On August 12, 2020, in Bury, Mr Kershaw and his friends fled their vehicle after being pursued by Khurshid, Kamran Mohammed and Mohammed Izaarh Khan, who were in a silver BMW.

The 18-year-old was fatally shot in the chest by a .22 calibre pistol operated by Mohammad.

On May 21, 2021, the three men, all from Bury, were found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Raheem Hall of Hardfield Street in Heywood, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender prior to the trial and was sentenced to four years in a young offender's institution.

As the investigation developed, it came to light that Khurshid had fled the country with his two sisters, Farah and Husna, in an attempt to evade police.

The sisters played a pivotal role in planning his escape by booking hotels, hiring a car, and travelling on the Eurotunnel.

They then travelled from Calais to Belgium, where Khurshid was booked on a one-way flight to Pakistan.

However, Khurshid had forgotten to get a Covid test and was unable to board the flight. A short time later, he was arrested by Dutch police in Amsterdam.

Khayam Ali Khurshid was arrested in Amsterdam (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

Sisters Farah, 28, and Husna, 29, were arrested and interviewed by police but denied their involvement and knowledge of their brother’s involvement in the murder, claiming they were simply going on a family holiday.

They were subsequently charged with assisting an offender in a murder and following a one-week trial at Manchester Crown Court in July 2024, were both found guilty.

On Monday (August 19) the sisters, both of Hyde Road in Manchester, were sentenced to two years and six months in jail each.

DI Baker added: “Khurshid’s arrest in Amsterdam shows that law enforcement’s collective capability is far-reaching, and regardless of the steps you take to evade us, there is no place to hide.

“Proactive investigations into firearms enabled criminality in Greater Manchester and across the region have resulted in record breaking hauls and some of the UKs most harmful offenders being put behind bars for decades.

"Over the last 12 months alone, we’ve dismantled several criminal networks and secured convictions and jail sentences which have put criminals behind bars for more than 300 years collectively.

“Whilst most firearms incidents are targeted and do not pose a threat to the wider public, we know the fear and anxiety these incidents cause amongst our communities.

"Our focus therefore remains on intensifying action, and we will continue to make crucial arrests, execute warrants, recover firearms, and hold those involved in the use, supply, and conversion of firearms in Greater Manchester to account.”

Cole Kershaw (Image: Greater Manchester Police)