Colchester Hythe murder trial of Rahimi to begin in February

Rakar Rahimi, of Wellington Street, Ipswich, has been charged with murder as part of an ongoing probe into the death of Bako Azad Sheikha in the Hythe.

Detectives launched an investigation after Bako, 23, was fatally injured in Distillery Lane at about 2am on September 12 last year.

Cordon - police officers guard the scene as a forensics team works (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Popular - Bako, left, with his brother Zanko (Image: Contribution)

An inquest heard Bako died from a stab wound to the heart.

Rahimi, who denies murder, is due to face a trial on February 27.

The trial at Chelmsford Crown Court is estimated to last up to ten days.

Investigation - forensic workers at the scene (Image: Newsquest)

Murder - the incident shocked the community (Image: Newsquest)

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, told the court on Friday that the Crown Prosecution Service’s case is almost complete.

Bako, who arrived in the UK as a youngster from Iraq, was described as a “real smiler” by those who knew him.

A series of shops within the Kurdish community remained closed in Colchester for a short period as a gesture of respect after the news of his death broke.

Read more about this story:

• Live updates as murder investigation is launched in Colchester
• Tributes paid to 'beautiful' Kurdish man, 23, who died in Colchester
• Kurdish man died after suffering stab wound to the heart in Colchester