CALLIN WILSON'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN BELFAST: FROM SCHOOL TERROR TO MURDER AND CHILD ABUSE
In a case that has shocked the community of Belfast, Callin Wilson, aged 20, was convicted of a brutal murder that took place in the city centre, alongside revelations of his disturbing past behaviors and links to child sexual abuse images.The court proceedings, held at Belfast Crown Court, painted a grim picture of Wilson's history, which includes violent tendencies and troubling conduct dating back to his school days.
Wilson's violent tendencies were evident long before the tragic incident in 2017.
Court records revealed that during his time at school in Belfast, he once attempted to strangulate a teacher by trying to wrap a wire around her neck.
This act of violence was not an isolated event, as Wilson was also linked to animal cruelty, further highlighting his pattern of aggressive and harmful behavior from a young age.
The case that led to his conviction involved the murder of Hazem Ahmed Ghreir, a 30-year-old man who had made Belfast his home after fleeing the war-torn country of Syria in 2015, along with his brother Rami.
On the evening of June 4, 2017, Mr.
Ghreir was working as a delivery driver for a local fast-food restaurant when he encountered Wilson near Dublin Road.
Witnesses reported that Wilson was engaged in suspicious activity, possibly tampering with a bicycle, which drew the attention of Mr.
Ghreir.
According to the court, Mr.
Ghreir intervened in what he perceived as inappropriate behavior by Wilson, running towards him and grabbing his shoulder in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
It was at this moment that Wilson made a sudden, sharp movement towards Mr.
Ghreir’s chest, which the prosecution argued was the point at which Wilson stabbed him with a knife.
The fatal wound was a single stab to the heart, which resulted in Mr.
Ghreir collapsing and ultimately succumbing to his injuries.
After the stabbing, Wilson initially walked away from the scene but then returned to attempt to aid Mr.
Ghreir by placing him in the recovery position using his feet.
He left again but later returned, during which he rifled through the victim’s pockets and stole his iPhone.
Despite efforts to save him, Mr.
Ghreir was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:15 pm.
Wilson’s actions did not end there.
He was found leaving a nearby Tesco Express store shortly after the attack.
When police apprehended him, he denied any involvement, claiming, “I didn’t do anything.” Police also discovered a blood-stained knife on his person, further implicating him in the murder.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Patricia Smyth disclosed that Wilson suffers from a complex mental disorder.
She explained that there was clear evidence of this condition dating back to his infancy, and that he had been referred to child and adolescent mental health services in 2010.
The judge also highlighted Wilson’s history of opportunistic behavior, cruelty to animals, and inappropriate sexual conduct, including an incident at school where he attempted to put a wire around a female teacher’s neck.
His fascination with knives and violent crime TV shows was also noted as concerning.
At the time of the murder, Wilson was living independently at Flax Foyer in Belfast, a facility for homeless young people, and was only 18 years old.
The judge expressed concern over the failure of the mental health and social services to provide adequate support and supervision, questioning how the necessary safety measures failed to prevent such a tragedy.
Wilson was sentenced to serve a minimum of nine years in prison before being eligible for parole.
Upon release, he will remain on life license for the rest of his life.
Additionally, he received a concurrent 12-month sentence for possessing and creating indecent images of children.
Police found 426 images of children, mostly teenage boys, on his laptop during a search of his Belfast accommodation following the murder.
