THE family of a man viciously stabbed to death have hit out at the Government after it was revealed his Iranian killer should never have been in the UK when he brutally murdered the dad of three.

Relatives and friends of Rasul Moosavi Taddi, 54, are demanding answers from the Home Office after it emerged murderer Ahmedreza Fathi was a failed asylum seeker.

Fathi stabbed Mr Taddi 14 times during two separate attacks at his home in Kimberley Street, Hartlepool, on July 18 and 19 last year.

Mr Taddi's family spoke to the Mail moments after Fathi, 22, who came to the UK five years ago, was jailed for a minimum of 18 years.

The illegal immigrant was yesterday found guilty of murder after a two-week trial at Teesside Crown Court. He had denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Immigration officials are understood to have launched proceedings to get Fathi deported back to Iran and the final decision rests with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

The court heard pizza shop worker Fathi was allowed to carry on working in takeaways in Hartlepool and County Durham, despite having his bid to remain in England turned down.

His cousin Mohsen Mossavi Taddi said: "At the moment so many refugees come to this country without visas, work permits or money. I strongly believe they should send him back."

Mr Taddi's family have spoken of the torment at losing a respected member of the Iranian community and said they have still not been able to tell his mother the full details of how he died.

Mr Taddi's cousin added: "The trial has been very hard. His family all still miss him. I haven't been able to tell his mother in Iran exactly how he died. I can't face telling her."

The family of Mr Taddi, who had lived in England for more than 30 years, cried and hugged each other as the jury returned their unanimous guilty verdict to murder.

Mohsen Taddi, of Sunderland, said: "Justice has been done."
Mr Taddi's ex-wife Susan Laws, 54, from Wingate, added: "We are obviously all relieved that the jury have in our opinion come to the correct decision."

A UK Border Agency spokesman said he cannot comment on individual cases but added: "Our priority is to protect the public and we believe foreign lawbreakers who commit serious offences should be sent home at the earliest opportunity. In 2008 we removed a record 5,400 foreign criminals from the UK.

"The UK Borders Act now makes it easier to deport foreign offenders, so that those non-European Economic Area foreign nationals who are jailed for 12 months or more are automatically considered for deportation."