Man jailed for violent attack in Edinburgh but cleared of killing 'loving father and husband'

A convicted killer has been jailed for seven years for assaulting a man in a street attack, as he was cleared of killing the victim’s friend.

Daniel Springer launched an assault on Mohammed Shahalam outside a takeaway restaurant in Edinburgh.

During the incident, his friend Nashir Ahmed suffered injuries that resulted in his death in the hospital five days later.

Springer was found guilty of assaulting Mr Shahalam by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh, but acquitted of killing Mr Ahmed, 65, who had a heart condition and used a walking stick.

Following the verdict, the court heard that Springer was previously convicted of committing manslaughter in England and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.

He has amassed 19 previous convictions, including for serious assaults, racially motivated assaults, robberies and drug offences.

A judge told him: “I have looked at your criminal record. You are quite clearly a violent man.”

Lord Mulholland said that he had now been convicted of “a very serious attack” on a man who was only going about his lawful business.

He told jurors: “It has been a very distressing case for everyone affected by it.”

He told them that previous convictions were not disclosed during trials in Scotland.

The court heard that after the violent incident at a bus stop at Ferry Road, in Leith, Springer, 40, was heard saying: “They messed with the wrong guy.”

He added he was “going to swing for everyone”. Springer said they had thrown a punch, but he landed a hundred.

Springer, from London, who had been living in Glasgow, denied a charge of culpable homicide.

It was alleged that he killed Mr Ahmed by attacking him at Ferry Road, in Leith, on March 10, 2024, by punching him on the head, resulting in the victim falling and striking his head, whereby he was so severely injured that he died at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on March 15, 2024, but was found not guilty.

He was found guilty of assaulting Mr Shahalam on March 10, 2024, at Ferry Road by repeatedly punching and kicking him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.

Springer had twice been freed on bail at Glasgow Sheriff Court prior to the violence he carried out in Edinburgh. He was later jailed for two assaults committed in Scotland

Advocate depute Liam Ewing KC said Springer launched “a random, senseless attack on two men who were in the street minding their own business”.

He said they had the misfortune to encounter an intoxicated and aggressive Springer who unleashed mindless violence against them.

Mr Shahalam told the court his friend was killed for “no reason” following the assaults outside his takeaway restaurant, Indian Flavour. He said he saw Springer punch his friend and said: “Why are you hitting him? He is an old man.”

He said his friend, who was unable to work, would visit his restaurant, and on the evening of the attack, they were outside the takeaway talking when Springer appeared.

He asked if they had tobacco and was told to try a nearby Scotmid store. Mr Shahalam said: “He seemed annoyed, not happy, with the answer I provided.”

He said Springer punched him in the chest, and he hit him back before the stranger began repeatedly punching him in the face and kicking him, and he was dragged into the bus stop.

He said: “When I fell down, he kept punching me in the face. He was punching me as strongly as possible.”

He said the attacker said: “Have you seen any black man get beaten. He said I am a gang member or gang leader. That’s what he said, like he is entitled to what he wants.

“I was just grabbing him and trying to pull him down, but he was far more stronger than me,” he said. He was beaten and kicked and sustained fractures to his knee and ankle.

He said that at some point, Springer left him and turned on Mr Ahmed, whom he knew as Ronnie. He said: “I think Ronnie has come forward to save me or something.”

He said Mr Ahmed was punched in the face by the attacker. He said: “After the punch, I think he fell down.”

Other witnesses said Springer was acting aggressively before the attacks, with a passerby stating that Mr Shahalam and his friend seemed to be trying to de-escalate the situation, while Springer appeared to be escalating it.

After the assaults, Springer, who is more than six feet tall with an athletic build, fled from the scene.

Springer claimed that he was attacked inside the takeaway and was fighting for his life, and was left shocked and bleeding. He denied striking Mr Ahmed.

The court heard that following Mr Ahmed’s death a post mortem was carried out which concluded that his death was ultimately as a result of complications of blunt force head trauma. He previously suffered a stroke and had a heart condition.

The victim was described as “a slender, slight elderly gentleman” who stood five feet eight inches tall and weighed just over nine stones.