No sentence increase for bank killer, MP confirms

An asylum seeker who stabbed a man to death inside a bank will not have his sentence increased, an MP has said.

Haybe Cabdiraxmaan Nur was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years in prison for murdering Gurvinder Johal at a Lloyds branch in Derby in May 2025.

In November, Derby South MP Baggy Shanker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had asked for government officials to review the sentence following concerns it was "far too short".

Now the Labour MP says the Solicitor General had informed him Nur's minimum term was considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, but would remain in place.

Derby Crown Court heard Nur committed a number of offences, including robbery, assault and resisting a public official, in four European countries before he paid £400 to be brought to the UK illegally in 2024.

On the afternoon of 6 May 2025, he "calmly" walked into the St Peter's Street bank branch and stabbed restaurant owner Johal through the heart.

He pleaded guilty to murder in August and was sentenced in October.

Shanker said while the term would not be increased, the government had assured him the life sentence would be completely served in the UK, something the victim's family had wanted.

In a statement, he said: "This was a shocking act of violence that devastated a family and our community.

"The offender has received a life sentence with a minimum term of over 25 years.

"I raised the case to ensure it was properly reviewed, and I also raised the family's wish for the sentence to be served in the UK.

"Confirmation has now been given that the minimum term will be served here (UK).

"My thoughts remain with Gurvinder's family, and I will continue to support them."

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