Raoul Moat accomplice's sister speaks out

Jun 12 2011 by James Moore, Sunday Sun

HIS life should have taken an altogether different course, but a phone call from a new friend sent Qhuram Awan’s life on a sinister path.

It was a phone call that would put him in touch with the now infamous Raoul Moat and see him caught up in the gunman’s murderous rampage that shocked the nation.

Now, speaking for the first time, Awan’s family have told how they saw the events which led to him being sentenced to a 20-year stretch for attempted murder and conspiracy to kill police officers.

Awan’s sister Sadaf Awan-Furness has exclusively told the Sunday Sun:

:: Awan plans to appeal against his 20 year sentence

:: Details of the day she received the chilling letter from her brother saying he was being held hostage by madman Moat

:: That police arrested Sadaf and her husband and ransacked their home believing they were someway involved in the conspiracy

:: That Awan nearly died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 21

Mum-of-one Sadaf, 27, spoke out on behalf of her 24-year-old brother who must serve a minimum of 20 years before he can apply for parole.

Awan, who drove Moat on the night he shot and blinded PC David Rathband, was given two life sentences in March for the attempted murder of the officer in East Denton, and conspiracy to murder other officers.

Sadaf and her parents, Abdul and Khalida, haven’t been able to see Awan since he was convicted and sent to Durham’s Frankland jail in March.

They communicate via daily phone calls, during which Awan told his sister of his frustration at the situation that saw him locked up.

The family claim Awan had only been introduced to Moat hours before the shooting spree started, saying what unfolded next was completely out of character with the “family-orientated man” they know and love.

Sadaf revealed his close relationship with his family was heightened after he nearly died suffering a heart attack and two pulmonary embolisms at just 21.

Sadaf explained: “We were looking to arrange a marriage for him. He was looking to settle down and planning to open a takeaway in Gateshead.

“Especially after the embolisms and heart attack and almost dying, he wanted to settle and have a family and have his own business.”

It was new work colleague Karl Ness who phoned Awan in the wake of the shooting of Chris and Samantha.

They had met a month earlier when Awan took a job at a car garage.

Sadaf said: “Karl just asked him to come to his girlfriend’s house and off he went. Moat was there and had threatened Karl and his girlfriend and then he threatened my brother as well,” explained Sadaf.

“It was on the Sunday morning when we received the hand delivered letter. He said he was being held hostage, not to get in touch, not to tell the police or my mum and dad because he didn’t want to worry them too much.”

But fearing for her brother’s safety, Sadaf did tell her parents and they went straight to the police.

A second letter was delivered to one of Awan’s friends, Andrew Hardisty, with similar content but also saying: “This deed will see me a made man.”