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| Shafilea Ahmed's sister avoids jail term over robbery | Shafilea Ahmed's sister avoids jail term over robbery |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The sister of murdered 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed has avoided a jail term after admitting her part in an armed robbery at her parents' home. | The sister of murdered 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed has avoided a jail term after admitting her part in an armed robbery at her parents' home. |
| Alesha Ahmed, 24, was arrested in connection with the robbery in Warrington, Cheshire in August 2010. | Alesha Ahmed, 24, was arrested in connection with the robbery in Warrington, Cheshire in August 2010. |
| She was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty in April 2011. | She was given a 12-month suspended sentence at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty in April 2011. |
| Her parents Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed were jailed for life in August after being convicted of murdering Shafilea. | Her parents Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed were jailed for life in August after being convicted of murdering Shafilea. |
| Southwark Crown Court heard the teenager's arrest ultimately led to the conviction of her parents for the murder. | |
| It was in a police interview that she told officers she had seen her parents kill her sister seven years earlier. | It was in a police interview that she told officers she had seen her parents kill her sister seven years earlier. |
| 'Life overshadowed' | 'Life overshadowed' |
| The jury was told that she helped organise the robbery at the family home in Liverpool Road. | |
| Three masked men broke into the house, tying up Farzana Ahmed and three of her children. | Three masked men broke into the house, tying up Farzana Ahmed and three of her children. |
| They were armed with a gun, a hammer and an iron bar and ransacked the property before fleeing with cash and jewellery. | They were armed with a gun, a hammer and an iron bar and ransacked the property before fleeing with cash and jewellery. |
| Her brother was kicked as he lay on the ground by a man wearing a steel toe-capped boot, and Mevish, one of her sisters, was hit in the shoulder with the hammer, the court heard. | |
| Mr Justice Irwin told Alesha Ahmed, who is part of a witness protection scheme, that the normal sentence for a serious crime of this kind would be a significant jail sentence. | Mr Justice Irwin told Alesha Ahmed, who is part of a witness protection scheme, that the normal sentence for a serious crime of this kind would be a significant jail sentence. |
| The judge described her story as "extraordinary and terrifying", but said he was confident she would not re-offend and suspended her sentence for two years. | The judge described her story as "extraordinary and terrifying", but said he was confident she would not re-offend and suspended her sentence for two years. |
| He said: "In my view, this is a case for mercy. | He said: "In my view, this is a case for mercy. |
| "I bear in mind all of the extraordinary circumstances I have outlined, in particular the truly appalling nature of what you had to witness, the impact this has had on you, and what you went through to be a witness." | "I bear in mind all of the extraordinary circumstances I have outlined, in particular the truly appalling nature of what you had to witness, the impact this has had on you, and what you went through to be a witness." |
| He added her role in the robbery was "crucial", but there was a "degree of unreality" about how she behaved. | He added her role in the robbery was "crucial", but there was a "degree of unreality" about how she behaved. |
| CCTV | CCTV |
| Cheshire Police appealed for anyone with information about the robbery to come forward. | Cheshire Police appealed for anyone with information about the robbery to come forward. |
| Det Insp Dougie Shaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "The men involved in the robbery remain outstanding. | Det Insp Dougie Shaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "The men involved in the robbery remain outstanding. |
| "Enquiries are ongoing to identify these offenders and ensure they are brought to justice." | "Enquiries are ongoing to identify these offenders and ensure they are brought to justice." |
| CCTV images of two men police wish to trace in connection with the incident have now been released. | CCTV images of two men police wish to trace in connection with the incident have now been released. |
| The men are pictured at a petrol station in the Castle Bromwich area of Birmingham on 25 August 2010. | The men are pictured at a petrol station in the Castle Bromwich area of Birmingham on 25 August 2010. |
| Shafilea Ahmed went missing from the family home in 2003 and her body was found in the River Kent in Cumbria six months later. | Shafilea Ahmed went missing from the family home in 2003 and her body was found in the River Kent in Cumbria six months later. |