A man who brutally attacked and killed another man in Oxfordshire with a baseball bat has been jailed for life.

In the early hours of Wednesday, January 3, Neil Comins, aged 39, was attacked by Janaed Saeed Akhtar with a baseball bat, suffering extensive serious injuries.

Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Mr Comins died in hospital the following day on Thursday, January 4 after undergoing surgery for a head injury.

Akhtar had attacked Mr Comins, hitting him in the head with a baseball bat and stabbing him to the right side of his neck, before calling 999 himself for emergency services.

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Cope Road in Banbury. (Image: Google Maps)

A post-mortem examination ascertained that Mr Comins had died as a result of a traumatic head injury.

After killing Mr Comins, Akhtar attempted to implicate two innocent people, who were co-residents at the property in which Akhtar lived.

One was implicated for the murder and another for an alleged assault on Mr Comins a few days’ earlier.

These false allegations made by Akhtar led officers away from him as a suspect and resulted in two people being arrested for an offence they did not commit.

However, DNA evidence was found on the baseball bat that belonged to Akhtar.

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Janaed Akhtar murdered Neil Comins.Janaed Akhtar murdered Neil Comins. (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Mr Comins’ blood was found on a trainer belonging to Akhtar, who was charged with murder on 10 January.

Akhtar, formerly of Cope Road in Banbury, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict on Tuesday, July 16 of one count of murder and one count of perverting the course of justice.

This followed a three-week trial at Oxford Crown Court.

The 40-year-old returned to the same court today (Friday, September 6) and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years.

He was also sentenced to five years and six months in prison for perverting the course of justice, which will run concurrently.

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Police were deceived by Janaed Saeed Akhtar.Police were deceived by Janaed Saeed Akhtar. (Image: NQ)

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Mike Roddy, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “The conclusion of this case sees Akhtar jailed for life for the violent murder of Mr Comins.

“The attack was completely needless, and whatever the motives, it was clear that Akhtar intended to cause Mr Comins very serious harm that night.

“The fact that Akhtar then made completely false allegations against co-residents shows the complete lack of remorse he has shown throughout.

“He cared for nobody other than himself and still denies any involvement, despite the weight of DNA evidence against him.

“Mr Comins’ family have had to endure a harrowing investigation while we brought Akhtar to account for his actions.

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“They have been remarkably dignified throughout the course of the last nine months, and my thoughts remain with them all.

“Akhtar will now serve a very lengthy prison sentence, and although I know that no court outcome will come as solace for Mr Comins’ family, I do hope that this outcome will, at least, offer a small measure of closure for them as they look to the future without Mr Comins in their lives.”

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