Two brothers have been jailed over a hit-and-run crash that killed a promising Crawley footballer and left two of his friends lying on the ground with serious injuries.

The shocking incident happened near Brighton Pier after a fight broke out, which was loud enough to wake guests in seafront hotels.

Suel Miguel Monteiro Delgado, 20, died in hospital after being hit by a borrowed car in the early hours of December 1, 2019.

Iftekhar Khondaker, 34, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years for murder and two counts of attempted murder at Hove Crown Court on Thursday morning.

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His brother Irfan Khondaker, 27, was jailed for three years after being found guilty of assisting an offender.

Mr Delgado and his friends had been on a night out when they came into contact with the brothers and their friend, none of whom they knew, the trial heard.

Standing up in court, his mother Sanches Graciete Montero delivered an emotional statement: “My son was by best friend, my right hand.

“Suel had so much to live and we had so much to live together.

“My life is destroyed forever.”

Suel Miguel Monteiro Delgado, 20, from Crawley
Suel Miguel Monteiro Delgado, 20, from Crawley

The Khondaker brothers, from Mitcham, south London, were in the car in the early hours of the morning when it sent the three men flying into the air and sped off, their trial heard.

Later that night, the brothers got into an Uber taxi that Irfan Khondaker had called and travelled back to their home in Mitcham, according to the prosecution.

Both were sentenced in absentia after not appearing in court.

The BMW that was used to drive into the group in Brighton
The BMW that was used to drive into the group in Brighton

Tyrone Smith QC, defending Iftekhar Khondaker, submitted there was not significant pre-meditation and there had been “an element of provocation”.

Sentencing them, Judge Christine Laing QC said: “Suel Delgado was just 20 years old at the time of this death.

“He had his whole life ahead of him to fulfil his potential and continue to make his family proud of him, but that was taken from him.”

Ms Laing said Iftekhar Khondaker’s intention was to “kill three men”.

The pair had denied the offences but were convicted by jurors at the same court last week after deliberating for more than 16 hours.

The two charges of attempted murder were decided by majority verdict.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Friday of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, who led the investigation said: "Our thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of all those affected by this.




