The nation has been shocked by CCTV footage from a UK prison that showed two prisoners laughing minutes before they murdered someone in his cell. The attackers, Ashirie Smith, a 19-year-old from England and Thierry Robinson, a 21-year-old from Rwanda, seriously injured a 31-year-old Sudanese man, Mahir Abdulrahman, while he was in the Fosse Way prison and he later died of his injuries.
The Smiling Killers
That morning on August 22, 202,4, the attack happened. Court footage of the case showed Smith and Robinson smiling as they strode down the hall toward Abdulrahman’s cell. The door was opened by a prison officer during the morning routine checks. Shaan Karim, 38 years old, was outside the cell while the assault occurred and was said to be keeping watch.
Only 37 seconds elapsed before the two were back out of the cell. His body was marked by serious injuries after he appeared. A fatal bleed at the base of his brain was the reason he died just an hour after the tumor had been removed. A forensic pathologist found bruises, abrasions, and cracked ribs, which they deemed required “severe force.”
Victim Had Asked to Move Cells
Other prisoners had supposedly been harassing Abdulrahman, who had already served 35 weeks of his sentence for a sexual offence. He told guards the day before his death that he wasn’t safe in his current cell, so he needed a transfer. According to court accounts, the tension became worse when Abdulrahman allegedly splashed Smith and Robinson with hot water from a kettle.
Even though it was obvious that Abdulrahman was in danger, officials did not act until it was too late. Other inmates then poured water on Abdulrahman’s body, believing it might wake him, and at least one was heard emphasizing the need for staff to help him.
Convictions and Sentencing
On May 30, 2025, after a trial at Leicester Crown Court, the jury released their verdict. After being found guilty of murder, Ashirie Smith was sentenced to serve life in prison, and she must serve at least 17.5 years before she is eligible for parole. Thierry Robinson was not found guilty of murder, but he was found guilty of manslaughter. Raul was sentenced to serve 11 years in jail.
Shaan Karim was found not responsible by the court for helping with the attack or for the deaths during it.
Later, a correctional officer testified that Smith later talked proudly about the murder when they met in another prison, saying, “I am in here for murder.” Already dropped a body, and if you keep bothering me, I can drop another.
Public and Official Reactions
The governor of HMP Fosse Way, Wyn Jones, spoke out against the attack, saying it was “a terrible act” and gave his sympathies to Abdulrahman’s family. Jones said that every death in prison is regrettable, but what happened to Mr. Abdulrahman was all the more emotionally devastating. After that, our emphasis has been to join forces with the police to identify and prosecute the suspects.
The Prison Service contracted the private company Serco to manage the new HMP Fosse Way, which was opened in June 2023. It makes many wonder if the proper security protocols are being followed, if prisoners are classified correctly, and if corrections officers are capable of stopping violence, especially against vulnerable inmates.
Calls for Prison Reform
As a result of Abdulrahman’s death, people are now talking about how inmates who are convicted of sex offences are managed in prison. There are those who say these inmates face extra risk because of their crimes, though some feel that all prisoners should be protected and treated with respect during their sentences.
Human rights advocates claim this case highlights a systemic problem, since there were missed indicators and not enough supervision. The footage of the grinning attackers, paired with the brutal swiftness of the assault, adds a disturbing visual to what has become one of the most talked-about prison crimes in recent UK memory.
