Leeds brothers who tried to flee UK after cold-blooded revenge murder of man outside shop in Beeston told to expect life sentences
Brothers Omar Ishaq and Kearon Barker have been told they will be handed life sentences over the revenge killing of a man who was stabbed to death outside a shop in Leeds.
Jurors at their trial at Leeds Crown Court heard how the pair tried to flee the UK hours after the cold-blooded attack on Keith Harrower.
Mr Harrower died from a single stab-wound to the neck in the planned attack outside the Premier store on Dewsbury Road, Beeston, on December 12, 2019.
Ishaq, 34, and Barker, 31, were found guilty of murder after a three-week trial.
The brothers lured 40-year-old Mr Harrower to the area after arranging to sell him drugs.
Ishaq delivered the fatal knife wound as Mr Harrower was distracted by Barker.
The court heard the attack was carried out as revenge after they had been "robbed".
Ishaq and Barker travelled to Hull with a plan to board a ferry to Amsterdam after the killing.
They abandoned the attempt to flee the country as Ishaq did not have a passport.
The brothers were driven to docks in Hull by their father as internet searches were made for 'last minute' journeys across the North Sea.
Toby Hedworth QC, prosecuting, told the jury how the defendants' father drove them in his Ford Fiesta to flats on Low Lane, Horsforth, after the incident.
The pair got out of the vehicle and went into the flats before returning a few minutes later.
The prosecutor said: "They returned to the vehicle no doubt having equipped themselves for the next stage of the journey."
The Fiesta was then driven to the home of a relative in Bradford.
Mr Hedworth said: "During the journey Kearon Barker used his mobile phone to connect to the internet. His web history reveals him making a number of similar searches."
Internet search terms included 'boats to Amsterdam', 'Hull to Amsterdam ferries tonight'. 'how can I get to Amsterdam', and 'UK to Amsterdam last minute'.
When they arrived in Bradford, the defendants' father asked to borrow his relative's car, claiming his own vehicle "was not running correctly".
The three men then switched vehicles to a Toyota Yaris which was driven to Hull.
Automatic number plate recognition cameras picked up the vehicle entering King George Dock at Hull and 10.41pm but returning from the area within minutes.
Mr Hedworth said: "It appears they were too late for a ferry."
The defendants' father dropped his sons off in Hull and returned home alone.
Barker's phone was used to make internet searches for accommodation near to the ferry port.
CCTV footage showed the pair going to the Mayfair Hotel on Beverley Road after being dropped off from the Yaris.
The prosecutor said the internet searches then changed. One search term included 'is provisional licence id ok for ferry to Amsterdam'.
Mr Hedworth said: "Clearly the inference was that one or the other did not have a passport for international travel on a ferry."
The prosecutor continued: "By 12.20am on December 13, any attempt to flee the country appears to have been abandoned.
"While Kearon Barker had his passport with him, Omar Ishaq has never had a passport."
Jurors were told Barker then searched 'Hull taxi' and the defendants caught a cab back to Leeds.
The taxi driver recalled how the pair had told him they had been to Hull 'to visit some girls'.
Barker was arrested at his partner's home in Beeston around 6am later the same morning.
Ishaq was arrested at his father's home two days later.
Ishaq, of Low Lane, Horsforth, and Barker, of Cardinal Crescent, Beeston, will be sentenced by Judge Andrew Stubbs QC at 10.30am tomorrow (February 11)