Man charged after arrest in Dover in connection with Essex 'murder'
Published: 14:16, 20 September 2022
Updated: 14:28, 20 September 2022
A man who was arrested in Kent after a 22-year-old died from serious injuries has been charged with murder.
Rakar Rahimi has appeared in court after Bako Azad Sheikha was killed last week.
Police officers and paramedics attempted to save the life of the young man after he was found in Colchester, Essex, in the early hours of Monday morning.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, he was declared dead at the scene.
Officers from Kent Police and Essex Police arrested a 22-year-old man at the Port of Dover later the same day.
Mr Rahimi has now been charged with murder in connection with the incident.
The 22-year-old, of no fixed abode, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Friday.
"We are aware that Bako's death has had an impact on the Kurdish community and beyond"
Detective Chief Inspector Antony Alcock said that the victim had links to several Kurdish communities, and appealed to them for information.
"Following the formal identification process being completed, I am now in the position to confirm that the victim in this case is 22-year-old Bako Azad Sheikha, who sadly passed away at the scene on Monday morning," he added.
"His family have been informed and are receiving support. Our team will continue to work on this case and we’re continuing to appeal to anyone who may have any information to contact us.
"Today’s charge is a significant development in this investigation and I would like to give credit to the investigative team who have been working around the clock on this as well as the number of witnesses who have assisted with our enquiries."
Essex Police has set up its Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has now been set up in two languages. To access it in English, click here, and in Kurdish, here.
"As we have previously mentioned, Bako was from the Kurdish community, and we believe he had connections across areas in Essex and Suffolk including Ipswich," DCI Alcock added.
"We are aware that Bako’s death has had an impact on the Kurdish community and beyond. We need anyone who may want to talk to us to get in contact, no matter how small the information may seem."
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Alex Jee