A WOMAN who played a ‘significant role’ in the death of a law student has been jailed for 15 years.

Judy Chapman appeared alone in the dock at Preston Crown Court on Friday morning, where she was sentenced for the manslaughter of 19-year-old Aya Hachem, who was shot dead on King Street in Blackburn.

Her seven co-defendants, who were all found guilty of murder, were locked up for a combined total of more than 200 years following a three-month trial in the summer.

Chapman was the only member of the gang who was found not-guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

The court heard how Chapman, now 27, had driven the hitman Zamir Raja and his driver Anthony Ennis from Bolton to Blackburn before and after the fatal shooting on May 17.

The intended target of the hit had been a rival businessman of ringleader Feroz Suleman, Pachah Khan, but Raja misfired and ended up killing Aya instead.

Judy Chapman was then waiting with her boyfriend Uthman Satia to drive the hitman and his driver away from the scene and back to Bolton.

Jailing her for 15 years, of which she must serve a minimum of two thirds, the Honourable Mr Justice Mark Turner said that Chapman played a significant role in the enterprise and said that she was in full knowledge that a gunman would fire live ammunition in broad daylight on a public street.

Defending her, Mr Tahir Khan QC said that Chapman was ‘vulnerable’ during her relationship with Uthman Satia – and told the court there must have been some pressure on her to take part in something she ‘would never have entertained’.

Mr Tahir Khan QC said: “You know she is of good character although convicted after trial.

“In the pre-sentence report she expressed remorse for playing a part in the killing of Ms Hachem.”

He added: “My overall impression is not that she is a callous, manipulative, sophisticated offender but rather a damaged and highly vulnerable person who spent most of her life being frightened of men.

“We concede, because it is the right thing to do, that custody is inevitable and custody of some length.

“But we do submit that in the case of this defendant there is hope for the future and that if anybody is deserving of mercy and compassion that she is.”

Chapman’s co-defendants were sentenced in August two days after the jury came back with their verdicts.

They were:

*Feroz Suleman, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, who was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years before he could be considered for parole.

* The gunman, Zamir Raja, 33, of Davyhulme Road, Stretford, who was jailed for a minimum of 34 years and his driver, Anthony Ennis, 31, of Grasmere Court, Partington, who was ordered to serve at least 33 years.

* Accomplices Ayaz Hussain, 36, of Calgary Avenue, Blackburn; Abubakr Satia, 32, of Oxford Close, Blackburn; his brother, Uthman Satia, 29, of St Hubert’s Road, Great Harwood; and Kashif Manzoor, 26, of Shakeshaft Street, Blackburn, were handed minimum terms of 32 years, 28 years, 28 years and 27 years, respectively.