The sister of a murdered north-east man spoke of her frustration last night that the person responsible for her brother’s death chose not to appear in court for his latest – and final – appeal.
Jill Fyfe travelled from her home in Aberdeen to London to sit through a Supreme Court challenge by Ameen Jogee, who is fighting to have his conviction quashed for the part he played in Paul Fyfe’s murder.
The 47-year-old, originally from Aberdeen, was working as a legal adviser and training to be a solicitor when he was stabbed through the heart in Leicester in 2011.
Five Supreme Court justices are now analysing Jogees’ case after he and his friend Mohammed Hirsi, who are both in their 20s, were given life sentences for the horrific crime at Nottingham Crown Court in March 2012.
Jurors heard that Hirsi had stabbed Mr Fyfe at a house in Leicester in June 2011 while being egged on by Jogee.
The pair have since lodged multiple appeals, and this final appeal – in the highest court in the land – is Jogees’ final chance.
Supreme Court justices are being asked to grapple with a legal issue relating to the fact that Jogee did not wield the knife – but egged on Hirsi.
They are considering what prosecutors had to prove in order to establish that the killing was a “joint enterprise” rather than a lone act by Hirsi.
Miss Fyfe, from Dyce, had been steeling herself to look one of her brother’s killers in the eye in the hope of finding even finding a glimmer of regret.
But when she arrived in court, she discovered he had chosen to excuse himself from proceedings.
“I wanted to look at him to see if there was anything there, any bit of remorse,” she said.
“The thought of seeing him made me feel sick, but I wanted to be there.
“Not being there speaks for itself – he’s guilty.”
Miss Fyfe attended the hearing with her brother’s widow Tracey and his three daughters Emma, Tara and Jessica, who travelled from Nottingham.
She said that Jogee’s family were in the court room for the proceedings, and was “disgusted” to see them “laughing and joking” about.
“I know his mother will want her son out, but she has to appreciate that she can still see her son – she can visit him in prison,” she said.
“My mum has to visit her son at a cemetery.”
At yesterday’s hearing, Jogee’s counsel set out their case. Today, Mr Fyfe’s family will set out their own to make sure Jogee does not become a free man.