Men to be sentenced for Peterborough pizza delivery driver manslaughter

Mark Lintott (Image: Archant)

Mark Lintott, 29, of Shrewsbury Court, Peterborough was today (October 27) found guilty of manslaughter and robbery following a seven day trial at Peterborough Crown Court.

Joel Lawson, 25, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery at a previous hearing.

The court heard the pair were with friends at Lintott’s home on the evening of May 7 when they decided to order pizza.

They called Pizza Hut in London Road to order the three pizzas and gave a false address with every intention of not paying when the food arrived.

Ali Qasemi (Image: Archant)

When 45-year-old Ali Qasemi arrived to deliver the pizzas he couldn’t find the address given and called back to the shop to confirm where he should be.

At the same time Lintott and Lawson also called to ask where their pizzas were and were told to make themselves known to the driver.

The pair approached Mr Qasemi and punched him once in the face. As he fell to the ground they picked up the pizza boxes, worth around £52, and ran back to Lintott’s flat.

A passing motorist found Mr Qasemi unconscious and unresponsive on the road in front of his vehicle. The ambulance service was called and he was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where he later died on May 10.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Lucy Thomson said: “This was a sickening, senseless crime, which has caused misery to Mr Qasemi’s wife and her young sons. They have lost a loving, devoted husband and father; devastating their close knit family, all for the price of three pizzas. I and my enquiry team send our deepest sympathy to Mrs Qasemi and the boys at this incredibly difficult time.”

The pair are due to be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on November 18.