FRIENDS of “honour killing” victim Arash Ghorbani-Zarin once again joined forces to play a pool tournament in his memory.

The Oxford Brookes engineering student, 19, was found dead in his car in Rose Hill in 2004, after being strangled and stabbed by brothers and the father of his pregnant girlfriend.

About 20 of his close friends play an annual pool tournament at Rileys Pool and Snooker Club in Between Towns Road, Cowley.

So far they have raised about £1,000 for Oxford bereavement charity SeeSaw, which helped Arash’s family after his death.

His father Raheem Ghorbani-Zarin, 55, said: “Nothing has changed. The pain is still the same, it has not gone away.

“But it shows how well loved he was that all his mates keep his memory alive.

“I am really honoured.”

Sharaz Rana, 26, of Westfield Close, Cowley, said: “It is about getting people that knew Arash together and having a day to go back and reflect on memories we have of him.

“It is a happy day for us. But as well as that we want to give back to people that have given to his family.”

Michael Rye, 24, of Kennedy Close, said: “Arash was always playing pool so this is the best way to pay tribute to him.

“He was great – a really nice and loving person that got on with everyone.”

Richard Hutchinson, 26, of Barracks Lane, said: “He never liked to see people down and this was one of the ways he liked to enjoy himself.

“It is so sad his life was cut short.”

Zia Ghaussy, 24, of Normandy Crescent, Cowley, said: “It brings back his memory and makes us feel he is here with us.”

Chris Fruin, 24, of Argyle Street, Iffley Fields, added: “We will keep doing it every year.”

Mr Ghorbani-Zarin, of Normandy Crescent, was strangled and stabbed 46 times by the brothers of pregnant girlfriend Manna Begum.

The Iranian was ambushed as he drove along Spencer Crescent, Rose Hill.

In December 2005, Bangladeshi Chomir Ali, then 44, and sons Mohammed Mujibar Rahman, 19, and Mamnoor Rahman, 16, were jailed for a total of 50 years.

Jurors heard Ali, of Asquith Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, was planning an arranged marriage for his daughter, and ordered the murder to “vindicate their family’s honour” .

Ali won the right to a full Court of Appeal hearing against his conviction on December 7.

A date has not yet been set.