Key Points
- Two men, Hamza Khan and Mohammed Rahman, both 23, found guilty of murdering Craig Dean in Birmingham.
- Attack followed text message argument on July 7, 2025, outside an address in Springfield Road, Moseley.
- Verdict delivered at Birmingham Crown Court on January 30, 2026; sentencing scheduled for February 24.
- Victim’s daughters thanked community for support in public statement.
Birmingham (Birmingham Express) January 30, 2026 – Two Birmingham men have been found guilty of murdering a popular father in a brutal beating sparked by a text message argument.
Hamza Khan and Mohammed Rahman, both aged 23, pulled up in a Vauxhall Corsa outside an address in Springfield Road, Moseley, at around 4.50pm on July 7 last year. Craig Dean, known to friends as Yankee, was standing outside when the pair launched a vicious assault on him following an argument over text messages. They continued kicking and stomping on his head even after he fell to the ground, before driving away.
What happened during the fatal attack?
Mr Dean was rushed to hospital but suffered such severe injuries that his life support was switched off two days later on July 9. West Midlands Police launched an investigation, quickly identifying the attackers’ Vauxhall Corsa a short distance away. Forensic tests on two drink cans recovered from the vehicle provided DNA evidence linking Khan and Rahman to the scene, according to reporting from Express & Star.
As reported by Express & Star crime desk, Khan of Anderton Park Road was arrested on July 16 inside a holiday rental in Worcestershire, while Rahman of Mapleton Grove tried to flee and was detained at Heathrow Airport upon returning to the UK on July 25. Both were charged with murder shortly afterwards.
How did the trial conclude?
On Friday at Birmingham Crown Court, the jury delivered guilty verdicts against both men after considering the evidence. They are due to be sentenced on February 24. The case highlighted the rapid police work that led from the crime scene to arrests within weeks.
What have the family said?
Craig Dean’s daughters released a statement expressing gratitude for public support. It read: “We, as Craig’s daughters, sincerely appreciate all of the kind words said about our Dad and everyone that has taken an interest in this case, demanding justice on his and our family’s behalf.” The family noted the community’s role in seeking justice throughout the process.
What happens next in the case?
Khan and Rahman await sentencing on February 24 at Birmingham Crown Court, where they will learn their punishment for the murder. West Midlands Police continue to emphasise the role of forensic evidence in securing the convictions.
The guilty verdicts bring some closure to the family of Craig Dean, a popular figure remembered fondly by those who knew him.
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