Bijan Ebrahimi murder: Two police officers convicted of misconduct in a public office in connection with disabled man's killing

Bijan Ebrahimi was killed in a vigilante attack after he was falsely accused of being a paedophile

Bijan Ebrahimi was killed by a vigilante group after being falsely accused of being a paedophile

PC Kevin Duffy and PCSO Andrew Pasmore of Avon and Somerset Police have been convicted of misconduct in a public office in connection with the murder of Bijan Ebrahimi in 2013.

Mr Ebrahimi, 44, was killed in a vigilante attack after he was falsely accused of being a paedophile.

He was beaten to death and his body then set on fire outside his flat in Capgrave Crescent, Brislington, by neighbour Lee James, who was later sentenced to life in prison.

Stephen Norley, another Capgrave Crescent rseident, was sentenced to four years for helping to drag Mr Ebrahimi's body away and set it alight.

Police officers ignored more than a dozen cries for help from the disabled man before his murder, a court heard.

Duffy and Pasmore denied misconduct. PCs Leanne Winter and Helen Harris were cleared of the same charge.

(Clockwise from top left) PC Leanne Winter, PC Kevin Duffy, PCSO Andrew Passmore and PC Helen Harris are on trial accused of ignoring Bijan Ebrahimi after threats to his life (PA)

Louisa Rolfe, temporary Deputy Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, released a statement to say: “A great deal has been done to understand and reflect on the events in the weeks leading up to Mr Ebrahimi’s death.

"We have changed and improved the way we work and will continue to work with our partners to do everything in our power to prevent such a dreadful event happening again."

The Police had to wait until the end of the criminal trial before misconduct proceedings could begin.

She added: "A large amount of preliminary work has already been undertaken in the interim period to plan as far as possible but now the trial is concluded, we are keen to instigate the disciplinary proceedings at the earliest opportunity and are in discussions with the IPCC to establish a date for them to begin.

"These hearings will examine in more detail the events surrounding Mr Ebrahimi’s murder.”