Bryony Marriott told how husband Chris died as he lived, helping others. His killer Hassan Jhangur was jailed for life today, and will serve at least 26 years behind bars
The heartbroken widow of a Good Samaritan paid an emotional tribute as the driver who killed him was jailed for life today.
Chris Marriott, 46, was murdered by Hassan Jhangur, 25, as he tended to a woman who lay in the road following a wedding brawl. Bryony Marriott wiped away tears as she told how her husband “loved helping, supporting and empowering others”.
Jhangur ploughed his car into the middle of a wedding brawl in Sheffield two days after Christmas in 2023. The city’s crown court heard that the family of the bride had fallen out with her just before the ceremony was to take place.
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Mr Justice Morris said Jhangur must serve at least 26 years before he is considered for parole. He told him: “This was a deliberate and senseless act of hot-headed and wanton violence resulting in the tragic death of Chris Marriott and life-changing consequences for many others.”
Chris had gone to the aid of Jhangur’s sister while out on a post-Christmas walk with his family. A number of other people were injured by the car, including off-duty midwife Alison Norris, who had also gone to help, and Jhangur’s own mother and sister.
The killer then got out of a Seat Ibiza and stabbed his new brother-in-law, Hasan Khan, several times. Reading her victim impact statement at Sheffield Crown court, Bryony said: “Chris was genuine, kind and loving.
“He was reliable, trustworthy, affectionate and gentle. Chris was someone people felt comfortable and safe with, and was great at being a friend.”
And she said: “Chris was a man of faith, and his love for God and for people shone through in what he devoted his time to. He had a compassionate heart and loved helping, supporting and empowering others.”
Mrs Marriott said they had been married for 16 years and they thought they would grow old together. She said he “loved being a dad, and never left me or them in any doubt of his love for us”.
She told the court: “I miss his smile and his laugh, his touch, and his wisdom and his encouragement. He was my best friend. Our time as a family of four was so much shorter than we ever imagined. But it is my hope that Chris’s life, more than the manner of his death, has a lasting impact on me, my children, and many others.”
Jhangur, of Whiteways Road, Sheffield, was cleared of attempting to murder Hasan Khan, who had just married Jhangur’s sister Amaani against her family’s wishes. But he was found guilty of wounding with intent, as well as three charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Alison Norris, Ambreen Jhangur, Nafeesa Jhangur and the wounding with intent of Riasat Khan, father of Hasan.
Mohammed Jhangur, 57, who lived at the same address as his son, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice after he concealed a knife. Chris had seen Nafessa Jhangur in the road and decided to help, while his wife and children returned home.
Ms Norris, also out walking with her partner and children, also went to their aid. Jhangur had been told about his sister being injured, and arrived at the scene in a Seat Ibiza, driving into Riasat Khan.
The groom’s father was standing in the middle of the road talking to a 999 call operator. The Seat then hit a group of four people in the road.
Nafeesa Jhangur, Ambreen Jhangur, Ms Norris and Mr Marriott were all targetted before coming to a stop in a nearby front garden. Jhangur got out of the car while the engine was still running.
He stabbed Hasan Khan multiple times to the left side of his head and to his chest, with a knife he had taken with him. Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC told the jury at Hassan Jhangur’s trial that he was guilty of murder as he intended “to cause really serious harm” when he used his car as a weapon.
He said that although Jhangur’s target may have been the Khan family, “the law says your intentions can be transferred from one person to another, even if he did not intend to hit that particular person”.
