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| Sabina Akhtar inquest: Authorities 'possibly' at fault | Sabina Akhtar inquest: Authorities 'possibly' at fault |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police, prosecutors and social services "possibly contributed" to the death of a woman murdered by her husband, an inquest jury has found. | Police, prosecutors and social services "possibly contributed" to the death of a woman murdered by her husband, an inquest jury has found. |
| The jury at Manchester Coroner's Court recorded a narrative verdict on Sabina Akhtar, 26, who was stabbed by Malik Mannan at their home in 2008. | The jury at Manchester Coroner's Court recorded a narrative verdict on Sabina Akhtar, 26, who was stabbed by Malik Mannan at their home in 2008. |
| Ms Akhtar had previously told police about violent attacks by Mannan. | |
| Manchester Coroner Nigel Meadows said officers had failed to investigate those complaints. | Manchester Coroner Nigel Meadows said officers had failed to investigate those complaints. |
| There was also criticism of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for not carrying out a full independent investigation into the handling of the case by Greater Manchester Police. | |
| There was also criticism of Manchester social services for taking insufficient action, and depriving Ms Akhtar of support. | |
| The court had previously heard Ms Akhtar had told police about a threat by Mannan to "get a knife and slaughter you" two months before she died. | |
| He was arrested but placed on police bail. | |
| Mannan, 36, was arrested again four days before the murder for breaching bail conditions put in place following the death threats, but was released without charge. | |
| Det Ch Supt Mary Doyle, from Greater Manchester Police, said the case tragically demonstrated the risk that perpetrators of domestic abuse pose. | |
| "There needs to be a far stronger presumption in favour of remanding alleged offenders of domestic abuse in custody until a thorough assessment has been made of the threat they pose to their victims. | |
| "Even if a charge for Mannan had been authorised, given the nature of the offence Mannan was highly likely to have been given bail at some point and therefore would have been at liberty to subject Sabina to further risk of harm." | |
| Struggle 'vindicated' | |
| The inquest was told the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had decided not to prosecute Mannan after he was arrested for assaulting his wife, as they considered it "one person's word against another". | |
| Mannan was then released and went on to kill Ms Akhtar, who was stabbed through the heart at their home on Charlton Road, Levenshulme. | |
| He was jailed for life in March 2009. | |
| The inquest was ordered to be reopened in 2011 because of human rights concerns. | The inquest was ordered to be reopened in 2011 because of human rights concerns. |
| Matthew Gold, a solicitor representing Ms Akhtar's family, said the decision "vindicated" their long struggle to establish serious failings by the authorities. | |
| He said: "The family hope that procedures have and will continue to improve to ensure that the failings are not repeated and the victims of domestic violence are better protected which results in a saving of lives." | |
| Sabina leaves a son who is in school in Bangladesh and is being cared for by his grandfather and extended family. |