Breakthrough in refugee murder case

Mohammed Isa Hasan Ali died in hospital on Monday

Detectives investigating the death of an Afghan refugee in Southampton say they have made a breakthrough in the case.

Mohammed Isa Hasan Ali, 22, suffered a blow to the back of his head last weekend but managed to walk to his house in Ancasta Road, Southampton.

He was found unconscious by his housemates next morning and taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries two days later.

Information from the public has revealed that there was a fight outside the Mustang Sally bar in Cavendish Road, Southampton, where a group of men were reported attacking a man of "Asian appearance".

This young man fled his troubled homeland only to meet with a violent death in the country he sought refuge in

Det Supt Alan Betts

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "We would urge anyone who saw this fight, which happened outside the bar on Cavendish Road, Southampton, at around 11.30 pm on Saturday, to contact us."

Police, who are hoping to name the man later on Thursday, have released more information into his past.

He arrived in the UK in 2001, having been tortured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Police said that during the course of the post-mortem they found heavy scarring to his back.

Recently, he had been employed in various temporary roles including picking mushrooms and on a production line for a fruit and veg packaging company.

"He fled Afghanistan and came to the UK with hopes for a brighter future and has been working to support himself, doing hard and menial work just to make ends meet," said Detective Superintendent Alan Betts.

"It is a tragic irony that this young man has fled his troubled homeland only to meet with a violent death in the country he sought refuge in," said Mr Betts.