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| Shafilea Ahmed's sister spared jail over robbery of parent's house | Shafilea Ahmed's sister spared jail over robbery of parent's house |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The sister of Shafilea Ahmed – who was killed by her parents because they objected to her westernised lifestyle – was spared prison on Friday when she was given a 12-month suspended sentence for organising a robbery at her parents' house. | The sister of Shafilea Ahmed – who was killed by her parents because they objected to her westernised lifestyle – was spared prison on Friday when she was given a 12-month suspended sentence for organising a robbery at her parents' house. |
| Alesha Ahmed's arrest ultimately led to the conviction this year of her parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, for murdering their eldest daughter. | Alesha Ahmed's arrest ultimately led to the conviction this year of her parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, for murdering their eldest daughter. |
| While being interviewed about the robbery, Alesha, 24, told detectives that she and her siblings witnessed Shafilea's murder seven years earlier. | While being interviewed about the robbery, Alesha, 24, told detectives that she and her siblings witnessed Shafilea's murder seven years earlier. |
| Shafilea, 17, vanished in August 2003 and her remains were discovered in Cumbria in February 2004 but it was Alesha's statement to police that provided enough evidence to charge the parents, leading to their convictions this year. | Shafilea, 17, vanished in August 2003 and her remains were discovered in Cumbria in February 2004 but it was Alesha's statement to police that provided enough evidence to charge the parents, leading to their convictions this year. |
| The couple initially said Shafilea had run away from home and claimed they had nothing to do with her disappearance. But her mother, 49-year-old Farzana, later changed her story and in effect pointed the finger at her husband, Iftikhar, saying he was involved in a single, violent assault on their daughter on the night she went missing. | The couple initially said Shafilea had run away from home and claimed they had nothing to do with her disappearance. But her mother, 49-year-old Farzana, later changed her story and in effect pointed the finger at her husband, Iftikhar, saying he was involved in a single, violent assault on their daughter on the night she went missing. |
| Alesha had previously pleaded guilty to robbery after helping to organise the crime at her parents' home in Warrington, Lancashire, in August 2010. | Alesha had previously pleaded guilty to robbery after helping to organise the crime at her parents' home in Warrington, Lancashire, in August 2010. |
| Sentencing the 24-year-old, who is in a witness protection scheme, Mr Justice Irwin said at Southwark crown court, south London: "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. | Sentencing the 24-year-old, who is in a witness protection scheme, Mr Justice Irwin said at Southwark crown court, south London: "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 that, despite your undoubted intelligence and despite the help you may be given, your future life will be overshadowed by all that has happened, and it may be a long time before you achieve peace of mind and anything like normality." | "I bear in mind that, despite your undoubted intelligence and despite the help you may be given, your future life will be overshadowed by all that has happened, and it may be a long time before you achieve peace of mind and anything like normality." |
| He told Ahmed: "Yours is an extraordinary and terrifying story." | He told Ahmed: "Yours is an extraordinary and terrifying story." |
| He said robbery in the home was a very serious crime and she would have realised it would be a terrying experience and said the normal sentence for an offence of this kind would be a significant jail sentence, even for someone of good character who pleaded guilty. | He said robbery in the home was a very serious crime and she would have realised it would be a terrying experience and said the normal sentence for an offence of this kind would be a significant jail sentence, even for someone of good character who pleaded guilty. |
| But he said that although Ahmed's role in the robbery was "crucial", there was a "degree of unreality" about how she behaved. | But he said that although Ahmed's role in the robbery was "crucial", there was a "degree of unreality" about how she behaved. |
| He said she had been in witness protection for more than two years, adding: "This can properly be compared to house arrest, and I accept it had an especially intense effect on you, since you were psychologically vulnerable, you were in a state of conflict with your family, isolated and away from friends and any ordinary support." | He said she had been in witness protection for more than two years, adding: "This can properly be compared to house arrest, and I accept it had an especially intense effect on you, since you were psychologically vulnerable, you were in a state of conflict with your family, isolated and away from friends and any ordinary support." |
| He said Ahmed was not trying to bargain for a lower sentence in giving evidence and had asked to be sentenced before her parents' trial. | He said Ahmed was not trying to bargain for a lower sentence in giving evidence and had asked to be sentenced before her parents' trial. |
| Handing her a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years, the judge said she would be supervised by the probation service and will also have to undergo continuing mental health treatment, adding: "I am confident you will not re-offend." | Handing her a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years, the judge said she would be supervised by the probation service and will also have to undergo continuing mental health treatment, adding: "I am confident you will not re-offend." |
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