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Shafilea Ahmed death: Sister stands by her parents | Shafilea Ahmed death: Sister stands by her parents |
(about 6 hours later) | |
One of Shafilea Ahmed's sisters has told a jury that her parents played no part in the teenager's death. | One of Shafilea Ahmed's sisters has told a jury that her parents played no part in the teenager's death. |
Mevish Ahmed, 21, was giving evidence in the trial of Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed at Chester Crown Court. | Mevish Ahmed, 21, was giving evidence in the trial of Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed at Chester Crown Court. |
The couple deny murdering Shafilea, 17, at their home in Liverpool Road, Warrington, in September 2003. | The couple deny murdering Shafilea, 17, at their home in Liverpool Road, Warrington, in September 2003. |
Ms Ahmed said she stood by the statements she made to police in December 2003, when Shafilea was missing. | Ms Ahmed said she stood by the statements she made to police in December 2003, when Shafilea was missing. |
She was cross-examined by Tom Bayliss QC, who is defending her 52-year-old taxi driver father. | She was cross-examined by Tom Bayliss QC, who is defending her 52-year-old taxi driver father. |
He said: "The police officer asked you, 'did you think your mum and dad were involved in Shafilea's disappearance and could they be involved in any way'? | |
"The 12-year-old you said no, what does the 21-year-old you say?" | "The 12-year-old you said no, what does the 21-year-old you say?" |
Miss Ahmed replied: "No, still." | Miss Ahmed replied: "No, still." |
'Out of context' | 'Out of context' |
Shafilea's body was found on the bank of the River Kent in Cumbria in February 2004. | Shafilea's body was found on the bank of the River Kent in Cumbria in February 2004. |
Another sister, Alesha, 23, earlier told Chester Crown Court their parents suffocated Shafilea in front of the other children. | Another sister, Alesha, 23, earlier told Chester Crown Court their parents suffocated Shafilea in front of the other children. |
She said she heard her mother say, "Just finish it here" in Urdu as they forced a plastic bag into the teenager's mouth. | She said she heard her mother say, "Just finish it here" in Urdu as they forced a plastic bag into the teenager's mouth. |
The jury has also seen extracts of writings made by Mevish Ahmed and given to a friend, Shahin Munir, which appeared to corroborate Alesha's accusation. | The jury has also seen extracts of writings made by Mevish Ahmed and given to a friend, Shahin Munir, which appeared to corroborate Alesha's accusation. |
Mevish Ahmed has said they were "fiction" and had been taken out of context. | Mevish Ahmed has said they were "fiction" and had been taken out of context. |
Speaking on Wednesday, she said: "I feel like they are being blamed for something they have not done. I couldn't live with myself if, and obviously (the writings) have been taken out of context, they went down for something they didn't do." | Speaking on Wednesday, she said: "I feel like they are being blamed for something they have not done. I couldn't live with myself if, and obviously (the writings) have been taken out of context, they went down for something they didn't do." |
'Broken promise' | 'Broken promise' |
The court later heard evidence from Mevish Ahmed's friend, Shahin Munir. | The court later heard evidence from Mevish Ahmed's friend, Shahin Munir. |
The 22-year-old student said she handed police the documents after the trial had started. | |
She told police she had some information "which could help the case", but later "ran out" during an interview after feeling upset. | |
Ms Munir said: "I promised Mevish four years ago I would never tell anybody and I got upset because I realised I'd broken my promise to her." | |
When asked by Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, why she decided to break that promise, she replied: "I knew deep down it was the right thing to do". | |
'Started hitting her' | |
The court also heard that Ms Munir kept a diary, in which an entry on 8 August 2008 recorded a conversation with Mevish Ahmed in a park. | |
Ms Munir said Ms Ahmed told her that on the night Shafilea died there had been a row because the teenager had forgotten her coat when she was collected from work. | |
She told the court Ms Ahmed had told her that after the family got home, her father "started beating [Shafilea] and started hitting her". | |
She said Ms Ahmed had said she "did try to intervene but her mother knocked her back". | |
Ms Munir said Ms Ahmed told her her father had got a plastic bag and "he used it to suffocate Shafilea". | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |