Christopher El Gifari has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 32 years for the murder and robbery of Mark Lang. The 32-year-old was found guilty following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court last month. In addition to the murder charge, El Gifari was also sentenced to 10 years for robbery, which will be served concurrently.
The incident occurred on March 28 when emergency services were called to a report of a single-vehicle collision on North Road in Cathays, Cardiff. It was later discovered that the vehicle involved was a delivery van stolen by El Gifari from Laytonia Avenue. Mark Lang, a delivery driver who had been delivering parcels, tried to stop El Gifari by standing in front of the van. However, he was tragically driven over and dragged for a significant distance.
Despite the efforts of members of the public to help and comfort Mark, he sustained critical injuries and never regained consciousness. After 18 days, he tragically passed away from his injuries. Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell of South Wales Police expressed hope that the sentence brings some comfort to Mark’s family and friends, offering thoughts and support during this difficult time.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Rebecca Merchant described Mark Lang as a much-loved partner, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, whose life was tragically taken while he was simply doing his job as a delivery man. She acknowledged that nothing can bring Mark back or undo the events of that day, but hoped that the outcome of the trial would provide some degree of comfort to those who loved him.
The family of Mark Lang released a statement expressing their gratitude for the Court’s decision and thanking the jury, the police, and the Crown Prosecution Service for their hard work and support. They also extended their appreciation to the individuals who tried to help Mark, from those who called emergency services to the paramedics and hospital staff who provided care. The family described the past few months as traumatic and acknowledged that they now have to face life without Mark, with his partner being left alone and his loved ones missing out on significant milestones.
