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Shafilea Ahmed murder trial: Parents guilty of killing | Shafilea Ahmed murder trial: Parents guilty of killing |
(40 minutes later) | |
The parents of Shafilea Ahmed have been jailed for life after being convicted of her murder. | The parents of Shafilea Ahmed have been jailed for life after being convicted of her murder. |
The 17-year-old went missing from her home in Warrington, Cheshire, in 2003 and her body was found in the River Kent in Cumbria six months later. | The 17-year-old went missing from her home in Warrington, Cheshire, in 2003 and her body was found in the River Kent in Cumbria six months later. |
Iftikhar, 52, and Farzana Ahmed, 49, had denied her murder but the jury at Chester Crown Court returned guilty verdicts against them both. | Iftikhar, 52, and Farzana Ahmed, 49, had denied her murder but the jury at Chester Crown Court returned guilty verdicts against them both. |
Mr Justice Roderick Evans said they would both serve a minimum of 25 years. | Mr Justice Roderick Evans said they would both serve a minimum of 25 years. |
The judge told them: "Your concern about being shamed in your community was greater than the love of your child." | The judge told them: "Your concern about being shamed in your community was greater than the love of your child." |
The couple suffocated Shafilea with a plastic bag after years of abuse. | The couple suffocated Shafilea with a plastic bag after years of abuse. |
After the trial. Det Supt Geraint Jones described the killing as a "vile and disgraceful act against someone they should have been very proud of". | After the trial. Det Supt Geraint Jones described the killing as a "vile and disgraceful act against someone they should have been very proud of". |
He added: "For me this is not an 'honour killing', it's a clear case of murder." | He added: "For me this is not an 'honour killing', it's a clear case of murder." |
The police and Crown Prosecution Service said they will review conflicting evidence that emerged during the trial and later make a decision on whether any further action will be taken. | |
The prosecution claimed she was murdered by her parents because they believed she brought shame on the family. | The prosecution claimed she was murdered by her parents because they believed she brought shame on the family. |
Shafilea went missing on 11 September 2003 and was reported missing by a teacher a week later. | Shafilea went missing on 11 September 2003 and was reported missing by a teacher a week later. |
After several police appeals to find her, workmen found her decomposed remains in February 2004 and she was identified by her dental records and jewellery. | After several police appeals to find her, workmen found her decomposed remains in February 2004 and she was identified by her dental records and jewellery. |
Two post-mortem examinations failed to determine how she died but a verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at her inquest in 2008. | Two post-mortem examinations failed to determine how she died but a verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at her inquest in 2008. |
Police investigating the murder were so convinced her parents had killed the teenager they "bugged" the family home to listen in on their conversations. | Police investigating the murder were so convinced her parents had killed the teenager they "bugged" the family home to listen in on their conversations. |
The breakthrough came when Shafilea's younger sister, Alesha Ahmed, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at the family home in August 2010. | The breakthrough came when Shafilea's younger sister, Alesha Ahmed, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at the family home in August 2010. |
It was in a police interview that she said she had seen her parents kill her sister seven years earlier. | It was in a police interview that she said she had seen her parents kill her sister seven years earlier. |
During the trial, she told the court her parents pushed Shafilea on to the settee in their house and she heard her mother say "just finish it here". | |
She said the parents then forced a plastic bag into the teenager's mouth and killed her in front of their other children. | She said the parents then forced a plastic bag into the teenager's mouth and killed her in front of their other children. |
Taxi driver Mr Ahmed had claimed Shafilea ran away from home in the middle of the night and he never saw her again. | Taxi driver Mr Ahmed had claimed Shafilea ran away from home in the middle of the night and he never saw her again. |
Mrs Ahmed had denied claims that they had attacked Shafilea, but during the three-month trial she changed her account, claiming she saw her husband beat their daughter on the night of the murder. | Mrs Ahmed had denied claims that they had attacked Shafilea, but during the three-month trial she changed her account, claiming she saw her husband beat their daughter on the night of the murder. |
She also claimed he had threatened to do the same to her and their other children if she ever asked him what happened to Shafilea. | She also claimed he had threatened to do the same to her and their other children if she ever asked him what happened to Shafilea. |
As the verdicts were delivered by the jury after two days of deliberations, Iftikhar Ahmed stood impassively. Mrs Ahmed wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue. | As the verdicts were delivered by the jury after two days of deliberations, Iftikhar Ahmed stood impassively. Mrs Ahmed wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue. |
As Mr Ahmed was taken down to the cells, he swore at police officers. | As Mr Ahmed was taken down to the cells, he swore at police officers. |
Their children Junyad, Mevish and the youngest, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all broke down in tears. | Their children Junyad, Mevish and the youngest, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all broke down in tears. |
During the trial, Alesha Ahmed had told the court how her parents repeatedly attacked and abused Shafilea. | During the trial, Alesha Ahmed had told the court how her parents repeatedly attacked and abused Shafilea. |
She said Shafilea was torn between the allure of a Western lifestyle and their demands she wear traditional clothes and agree to an arranged marriage. | She said Shafilea was torn between the allure of a Western lifestyle and their demands she wear traditional clothes and agree to an arranged marriage. |
Speaking about the night her sister died, she said: "You could tell she was gasping for air." | Speaking about the night her sister died, she said: "You could tell she was gasping for air." |
Alesha went on to describe how the other children ran upstairs to their bedrooms in shock and she saw her father carry Shafilea's body to the car wrapped in a blanket. | Alesha went on to describe how the other children ran upstairs to their bedrooms in shock and she saw her father carry Shafilea's body to the car wrapped in a blanket. |
The children were later told to say nothing to the authorities amid a fear that they would suffer the same fate as their sister. | The children were later told to say nothing to the authorities amid a fear that they would suffer the same fate as their sister. |
Alesha's story was corroborated in writings her younger sister Mevish gave to her friend Shaheen Munir in 2008. | Alesha's story was corroborated in writings her younger sister Mevish gave to her friend Shaheen Munir in 2008. |
The writings emerged shortly after Alesha began giving evidence at the trial. | The writings emerged shortly after Alesha began giving evidence at the trial. |
Mevish, who supported her parents' defence, said the writings were a "fiction" which Alesha used to base her story on. | Mevish, who supported her parents' defence, said the writings were a "fiction" which Alesha used to base her story on. |
Speaking after the verdicts, close friend of Shafilea Melissa Powner paid tribute to her and spoke about the pain of having to watch as her killers avoided justice. | Speaking after the verdicts, close friend of Shafilea Melissa Powner paid tribute to her and spoke about the pain of having to watch as her killers avoided justice. |
She said: "We have waited for this day for many years. | She said: "We have waited for this day for many years. |
"We have watched as her killers roamed free. | "We have watched as her killers roamed free. |
'Destructive and cruel' | |
"Yet today we heard those important words - words that have finally brought our friend the justice she deserves." | "Yet today we heard those important words - words that have finally brought our friend the justice she deserves." |
On sentencing, Mr Justice Evans told the couple: "A desire that she understood and appreciated the cultural heritage from which she came is perfectly understandable, but an expectation that she live in a sealed cultural environment separate from the culture of the country in which she lived was unrealistic, destructive and cruel." | On sentencing, Mr Justice Evans told the couple: "A desire that she understood and appreciated the cultural heritage from which she came is perfectly understandable, but an expectation that she live in a sealed cultural environment separate from the culture of the country in which she lived was unrealistic, destructive and cruel." |
He added: "You killed one daughter, but you have blighted the lives of your remaining children. | He added: "You killed one daughter, but you have blighted the lives of your remaining children. |
"Alesha escaped but she is unlikely to be able to avoid the legacy of her upbringing. | "Alesha escaped but she is unlikely to be able to avoid the legacy of her upbringing. |
"Mevish, after a period of trying to live independently, was recaptured and brought home, and has since become compliant with your wishes." | "Mevish, after a period of trying to live independently, was recaptured and brought home, and has since become compliant with your wishes." |
He added: "As to Junyad, he remains supportive, especially of you Iftikhar Ahmed. | He added: "As to Junyad, he remains supportive, especially of you Iftikhar Ahmed. |
"Whether that is simply out of filial affection or the result of the warped values you instilled in him is impossible to tell. | "Whether that is simply out of filial affection or the result of the warped values you instilled in him is impossible to tell. |
"There is only one sentence that I can impose upon you and that is a sentence of imprisonment for life." | "There is only one sentence that I can impose upon you and that is a sentence of imprisonment for life." |