The violent feud that ended with an innocent university student being shot dead as she walked to the shop

Aya Hachem was just nine years old when she and her family arrived in the UK. Fleeing war and conflict in Lebanon, they sought refuge in Blackburn.

They had made the difficult decision to leave their home behind after Aya's father was shot in crossfire. Within five years of arriving in Lancashire, Aya was described as 'a beacon of hope'.

By the age of 14, she sat with her parents on a panel to help traumatised refugees. She spoke little of her own trauma, but her early life, and journey to supposed safety left its mark on her, as she planned a career in international law.

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At school, Aya - the oldest of four siblings - excelled and she was awarded student of the year at Blackburn Central High School in 2016. By the age of 16 she was appointed the Children's Society's youngest ever trustee for her humanitarian work, Lancs Live reports.

In 2019 - about ten years after arriving in the UK - Aya's father Ismail was awarded British citizenship. “I thought we would be safe here”, he said. “This small town, no big problems…. All my dreams were Aya. Everything Aya.”

By May 2020, Aya had completed her second year of her law degree at Salford University. Her future was filled with hope. But on a quiet street in Blackburn, on May 17, 2022, the family was torn apart when Aya too was caught in crossfire. However it was not a war which claimed the life of the promising student but a row between rival business owners over the sale of tyres in the town.

That month, Aya’s family joined Muslims across the world to observe the holy month of Ramadan. On May 17, after fasting from dawn, Aya, the oldest of four siblings, set off from home to buy