A driver who deliberately mowed down and killed a man in Halesowen earlier this year has been jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 15 years.

Nidal Alboraiki, aged 21 from Halesowen, deliberately drove at Ben Morse in the early hours of the 1 May following an exchange of words moments before.


Ben and his friends were walking along Beach Street after being dropped off by a taxi when the row broke out and Alboraiki drove at the group but missed them. Determined to cause injury he turned his car around and drove at them a second time, this time hitting Ben leaving him with a fractured skull. Later that morning, the 36-year-old, also from Halesowen, died from his injuries in hospital.


Later that day officers received a call from a member of the public reporting that a black Vauxhall Corsa had been left in Haden Close with a considerable amount of damage. When officers attended, the car had already been removed by a vehicle recovery truck however checks revealed it was registered to Alboraiki. Furthermore the car had a telematics box and had recorded the location and speed data from the night Ben was murdered.


As officers arrested Alboraiki at his home address, he resisted arrest and handed his phone to his brother Ahmed Alboraiki to dispose of which has never been found. Ahmed was subsequently arrested for assisting an offender and later charged with perverting the course of justice.


Following CCTV enquiries, detectives traced the driver of the recovery truck who led officers to where the car was being kept. It was later revealed that Alboraiki had informed the driver he had been drinking and had hit a tree. After removing items from the car, Alboraiki told the driver he didn’t want any money for it.


When questioned Alboraiki admitted to driving the car but pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, but a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court found him guilty of murder. His brother Ahmed was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice and has been locked up for 14 months. 
Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Ian Wilkins said:

"Alboraiki’s intention was to hit the group with his car so much so that after missing the first time he turned his car around in a second attempt. Sadly Ben didn't have time to move out of the way and was hit within seconds of the car turning around.


"Witnesses describe seeing the vehicle driving aggressively at the group and had no intention of stopping. Alboraiki then callously left the scene knowing he had seriously injured someone and went to great lengths to cover his tracks.


"Ahmed Alboraiki hindered the investigation by disposing of evidence on behalf of his brother, knowing he had killed an innocent man. Our thoughts remain with Ben's family at this time and we hope that today's verdict will provide some help in their grieving process."


Following the sentencing, Ben's family said: "Life as we knew it changed forever on 1 May 2017 when Ben was killed. He was and will continue to be the centre of our world. Ben's innocent and precious life was snatched away and a life sentence began for us.


"No conviction or amount of time spent in prison will bring our boy back to us and will never take away the anguish and pain. Ben was a son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend - words cannot express the heartache our family and friends have endured since his death.

"We are left with a void that can never be filled and our hearts will bear the deepest scars, from which they will never heal. We now request some privacy so way may attempt to come to terms with our deep loss."