Mahek Bukhari, a 25-year-old former TikTok influencer, has had her murder sentence reduced following a high-speed car chase in the UK that resulted in the deaths of two men. The court deemed her original minimum sentence of over 31 years to be excessive.
Bukhari and her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, were convicted in 2023 for the deaths of 21-year-olds Saqib Hussain and Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin. The fatal incident occurred in February 2022 when the victims were pursued on the A46 highway in Leicester. One of the cars driven by the Bukhari women rammed the victims’ vehicle, causing it to veer off the road, hit a tree, and burst into flames. Both men died instantly from their injuries.
According to court documents, the deadly chase was prompted by Hussain’s threats to release sexually explicit images and videos of Mahek Bukhari to her husband. Investigators said the victims were lured to a parking lot under the pretense of returning money Hussain had demanded, where all defendants coordinated the chase using two cars.
ALSO READ: Actress Isabelle Tate Dies at 23 from Rare Neurological Disease
During the appeal, Bukhari’s attorneys argued that the minimum sentence was disproportionate given her age at the time of the crime 22 years old and her level of maturity. On October 24, 2025, the Court of Appeal agreed, reducing her minimum term to 26 years and 285 days. Lord Justice Warby emphasized that insufficient allowance had been made for her immaturity at the time of the offenses.
Ansreen Bukhari was originally sentenced to a minimum of 26 years and nine months. Other defendants involved received sentences for manslaughter, while one individual was acquitted.
The case drew widespread attention due to the violent nature of the deaths and Bukhari’s social media presence, highlighting the potential consequences of coordinated acts of revenge and the role of digital interactions in real-world crimes.
The tragic incident underscores the severe outcomes that can arise from online conflicts escalating into real-world violence. Following the reduction, Bukhari’s sentence will continue to reflect the seriousness of the offenses while accounting for mitigating factors such as her youth at the time.
