JAILED: 30 years behind bars after shooting which paralysed father-of-three
A man has been jailed for 30 years after being found guilty of the attempted murder of a father-of-three who was shot in the back, leaving him paralysed.
Unemployed Aidan Harris-Bennett, got involved in an argument with a man in a fast food restaurant, which spilled out into the street.
The victim, who was 27 at the time, was with two friends ordering food when Harris-Bennett became aggressive and threatening towards them. The innocent group decided to leave and went to get into their car outside, but Harris-Bennett and an accomplice followed them and tackled the men again.
Initially Harris-Bennett brandished a knife and attempted to attack the victim, but he was able to dodge the blade, only for a second attacker to appear with a gun.
At this point 23-year-old Harris-Bennett spoke to his accomplice and ordered him to shoot the innocent victim.
The gun was fired but no-one was injured, giving the victim a moment to break away and try to flee the scene but his attackers gave chase and fired a second shot, hitting the father in the back as he ran.
He fell to the floor and lay bleeding as Harris-Bennett and the second man fled the scene in Babington Road, Handsworth, heading towards Soho Road.
The injured man, who is now 29, was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery, including a tracheotomy. Medics ultimately had to remove the man's lung and as a result of his injuries he is unlikely to ever walk again.
Subsequent enquiries identified Harris-Bennett, of no fixed address, as the prime suspect in the attack which took place on the afternoon of Friday, October 25, 2013. Attempts to arrest Harris-Bennett at a relative's Handsworth home in November 2013 proved fruitless. Further attempts to locate him were thwarted but he was finally arrested in May last year after his image was shown on BBC's Crimewatch.
Harris-Bennett stood trial at Birmingham Crown Court and this morning was found guilty of attempted murder and was subsequently sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 15 years.
Detective Constable Sarah Lacey, from Force CID, said: "It appears that Harris-Bennett called upon a friend to assist in a trivial argument, but the consequences have left an innocent man facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair, having suffered horrendous injuries.
"Harris-Bennett will now face a substantial prison sentence for an argument that could so easily have been avoided."
A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with attempted murder but was found not guilty following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court last year.
Anyone with information that may assist police should call 101 and quote Operation Pebble or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
