Man admits killing father-of-seven

LONDON (Reuters) - A man admitted on Friday murdering a father-of-seven who was stabbed to death in a park after he had gone to help his son.

Mohammed Bilal Bhatti, 21, changed his plea five days into his trial to plead guilty to killing 50-year-old Mohammed Raja Shafiq in Thompson Park, Burnley, in March, the Press Association reported.

Shafiq had gone to the park after being warned that his son, Umar, was going to take part in a pre-arranged fight with other members of nearby Burnley College.

The fight involved 19-year-old Shahdab Akhtar, who was on bail for assaulting Umar Shafiq two weeks earlier and had allegedly twice threatened him again to make him drop the charges.

"Mr Raja Shafiq's intention was to speak to Shahdab, and what he wanted was to resolve this ongoing problem but without resorting to a fight," said prosecutor Louise Blackwell.

However, Bhatti had gone to the park armed with a 7-inch knife, Akhtar carried a belt, his younger brother Shazad, 17, took a metal bar, and a fourth man Omar Khalid, 19, was carrying a wheel brace.

Shazad Akhtar hit Shafiq over the head, fracturing his skull, before Bhatti plunged the knife into his abdomen.

The other three defendants also changed their pleas to guilty at Manchester Crown Court on Friday. Shazad Akhtar pleaded guilty to manslaughter and violent disorder, while Shahdab Akhtar and Khalid pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

"You have committed matters so grave that a loss of liberty is inevitable, so bear that in mind, judge Justice Henriques told them.