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Fiaz Munshi jailed for 1997 Oxford arson child deaths | Fiaz Munshi jailed for 1997 Oxford arson child deaths |
(35 minutes later) | |
A woman has been jailed for 13 years for her part in killing two children in a revenge arson attack in 1997. | A woman has been jailed for 13 years for her part in killing two children in a revenge arson attack in 1997. |
Fiaz Munshi travelled with seven others to Amjad Khan's house in Oxford after he broke off their relationship. | Fiaz Munshi travelled with seven others to Amjad Khan's house in Oxford after he broke off their relationship. |
Petrol was squirted through the letterbox of the family home and Mr Khan's siblings Majid, 15, and Anum, eight, died in the resulting blaze. | Petrol was squirted through the letterbox of the family home and Mr Khan's siblings Majid, 15, and Anum, eight, died in the resulting blaze. |
Munshi, 38, of Oldham, was found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of murder. | Munshi, 38, of Oldham, was found guilty of manslaughter but cleared of murder. |
In a victim impact statement, Amjad Khan said his life had "crumbled" and would "never be normal". | |
Mehfooz Akhtar, Majid and Anum's mother, said she had been through "inhumane horror and pain". | |
She said she had been sectioned for depression, was anorexic and had tried to take her own life. | |
"I constantly see my son engulfed in flames jumping from a window. | |
"They never got a chance to chase their dreams. I find myself calling out for my lost angels taken away from me so mercilessly." | |
She added: "I may be living and breathing but a big part of me died that night." | |
Munshi, of Manley Road, had denied being involved in the firebombing. | Munshi, of Manley Road, had denied being involved in the firebombing. |
She had been in a secret relationship with Amjad but his family disapproved after he was convicted of a drugs offence, so he broke it off. | She had been in a secret relationship with Amjad but his family disapproved after he was convicted of a drugs offence, so he broke it off. |
It was proved that, angered by this and tensions with his family, she conspired with others to set fire to the house in Magdalen Road. | |
In 1998, five men were convicted of the killings. A year later Munshi's sister, Riaz, was convicted of manslaughter. | In 1998, five men were convicted of the killings. A year later Munshi's sister, Riaz, was convicted of manslaughter. |
Munshi was initially arrested in September 1997 but was released without charge due to insufficient evidence and flew back to Pakistan that December. | Munshi was initially arrested in September 1997 but was released without charge due to insufficient evidence and flew back to Pakistan that December. |
Just two days later, fresh evidence emerged. | Just two days later, fresh evidence emerged. |
The mother-of-four later returned on her passport to the UK in 2004 and Lancashire Police alerted Thames Valley Police the following year. | The mother-of-four later returned on her passport to the UK in 2004 and Lancashire Police alerted Thames Valley Police the following year. |
Due to a processing error, the information was not acted on until the Khan family asked for an update in 2012. | Due to a processing error, the information was not acted on until the Khan family asked for an update in 2012. |
Det Insp Craig Kirby said it was a "genuine but serious" mistake and said he had "apologised personally" to the family for the eight-year delay in questioning Munshi. | Det Insp Craig Kirby said it was a "genuine but serious" mistake and said he had "apologised personally" to the family for the eight-year delay in questioning Munshi. |
In a statement after the sentencing, Shenaz Akhtar, the victims' sister, said: "It has taken 17 years for Fiaz Munshi to be brought to justice for the killings of Majid and Anum. | |
"This is despite members of the Oxford community who have known the whereabouts of Fiaz Munshi ever since she fled the UK." | |
She added the family could finally "grieve properly" and visit Majid and Anum's grave for the first time together. | |
She described the sentencing of Munshi as "the happiest day of our lives" and said Majid and Anum "will always remain deep within our hearts". |