Teen jailed for stabbing two men to death after argument with woman outside Halifax nightclub

A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder of two men outside a Halifax nightclub.

Rashane Douglas, from Huddersfield, stabbed Joshua Clark, 21, and Haidar Shah, 19, outside Maggie's, on Commercial Street, on October 1 last year.

Douglas also stabbed Brandon Coupe, 18, during the attack, which occurred after a previous argument over a woman.

He was found not guilty of attempting to murder Mr Coupe, but was found guilty of wounding with intent and sentenced to six years in prison.

Douglas was also sentenced to 18 months for possessing a knife with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The sentences will run concurrently.

Judge Rose told the court: “This case is an illustration of the tragic consequences that can occur when a young man carries a knife in public.

“If you carry a knife, you are more likely to draw it; if you draw it, you are more likely to use it; if you use it, you are more likely to cause injury or death.”

During his trial, the court heard how Douglas stabbed all three men within seconds of each other.

The prosecution said the 19-year-old was furious that a woman he expected to meet at the nightclub was already with Mr Shah.

Douglas allegedly confronted the victims and a fight broke out after the woman returned home.

In a statement via West Yorkshire Police said Haidar's mother, Marium Shah, said her son “was the most beautiful person inside and out.”

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The teenager's older brother, Shahzerb Shah, added: “Seeing someone take their last breath with whom you share the same blood, with whom you grew up and with whom you shared happy memories, affects you more than people don't think so.

“For someone who doesn't deserve to be named, to be so cowardly in using a knife and then try to justify it and then cover it up and believe he's innocent just doesn't sit well with me.

“I look at the pain in my mother's eyes. I see the impact that Haidar's death had on her, on my sister, my brothers and my niece.”

Rachel Clarke, Joshua's mother, also said: “Josh was not only my son; he was also my best friend. We laughed and joked together, with his quick and intelligent sense of humor, life was so fun with Josh in it.

“Now my life feels so empty and dark. My new normal is trying to make my way through life without Josh, now that his life has been cruelly and needlessly ripped away from him by the actions of a brutal killer .

“One individual's cruel actions not only took away my beloved son, but also shattered my self-esteem. I lost my identity as a mother.”