Murder of Ross Parker
| Ross Parker | |
|---|---|
Commemorative plaque for Ross Parker at Peterborough Crematorium
|
|
| Born |
Ross Andrew Parker 17 August 1984 Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Died | 21 September 2001 (aged 17) Millfield, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Cause of death | Stabbing |
| Resting place | Peterborough Crematorium, Marholm, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England 52°36′17″N 0°17′23″W / 52.60471°N 0.2898°W |
| Residence | Westwood, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Occupation | Bar worker |
| Employer | The Solstice Pub |
| Known for | Victim of racist murder |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Partner(s) | Nicola Toms (now Foot) |
| Parent(s) | Davinia and Tony Parker |
| Ahmed Ali Awan | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1980 (age 36–37) |
| Residence | Millfield, Peterborough |
| Occupation | Labour contractor |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (minimum 18 years) |
| Criminal status | In prison |
| Motive | Racism |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (19 December 2002) |
|
Date apprehended
|
22 September 2001 |
| Shaied Nazir | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1980 (age 36–37) |
| Residence | Millfield, Peterborough |
| Other names | Biggy |
| Occupation | Door-to-door salesman |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (minimum 16 years) |
| Criminal status | In prison |
| Motive | Racism |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (19 December 2002) |
|
Date apprehended
|
22 September 2001 |
| Sarfraz Ali | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1977 (age 39–40) |
| Residence | Millfield, Peterborough |
| Occupation | Delivery driver |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (minimum 16 years) |
| Criminal status | In prison |
| Motive | Racism |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (19 December 2002) |
|
Date apprehended
|
c. 24 September 2001 |
Coordinates: 52°34′41″N 0°15′00″W / 52.578082°N 0.250048°W
Ross Andrew Parker (17 August 1984 – 21 September 2001), from Peterborough, England, was a 17-year-old English male murdered in an unprovoked racially motivated crime. He bled to death after being stabbed, beaten with a hammer and repeatedly kicked by a gang of British Asian youths. The incident occurred in Millfield, Peterborough.
In December 2002, Shaied Nazir, Ahmed Ali Awan, and Sarfraz Ali were all, unanimously, found guilty of Parker's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, each receiving minimum terms ranging from 16 to 18 years. A fourth defendant, Zairaff Mahrad, was cleared of murder and manslaughter.
Parker's murder is cited as an example of the lack of attention the media and society give to white victims of racist attacks compared with the coverage given to ethnic minorities. Organisations such as the BBC and some newspaper journalists later admitted to failing to cover the case sufficiently. It is also suggested the case demonstrates how society has been forced to redefine racism so as to no longer exclude white victims.
A memorial plaque for Parker is located in the Netherton area of Peterborough where a football match is played each year in his memory.
Ross Parker was born in Peterborough in 1984 to Davinia and Tony Parker. His mother worked as a waitress and his father ran a car bodywork repair business; he was one of two children. Parker was an avid football player and, having completed a GNVQ in business studies at Jack Hunt School, hoped to join the police force when he was 18. He was nicknamed "Half-Pint" owing to his 5 feet 5 inch height and had twice broken his leg previously. Parker lived in the Westwood area of the city and worked part-time as bar support at The Solstice, a local public house where he had met his girlfriend Nicola Toms.
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