Shafilea Ahmed murder: Parents jailed for 25 years as police praise courage of little sister who gave evidence

 
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Shafilea Ahmed's unrepentant father and his wife Farzana were jailed for at least 25 years each today for the murder of their daughter Shafilea.

Shortly before the sentence Iftikhar Ahmed told guards to 'f*** off' as they tried to escort him down to the cell.

He and his wife had been found guilty of killing the 17-year-old because she wanted a Western lifestyle.

He had held a plastic bag in the mouth of 17-year-old daughter Shafilea until she stopped breathing.

His wife Farzana, had urged him on with the words “just finish it here” at their Warrington home in September 2003.

Taxi driver Mr Ahmed then drove the body to the Lake District where it was found on the banks of the River Kent the following February.

Today, after the sentence at Chester Crown Court, police praised the courage of Shafilea's younger sister Alesha.

Paul Whittaker, Chief Crown Prosecutor of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: "Shafilea Ahmed was 17 when she died and her 26th birthday fell during the course of this trial. The tragic circumstances of her death must be the focus of our thoughts today.

"Despite the best efforts of the defendants to derail the investigation into her death by subverting witnesses including their own children, the Crown Prosecution Service and Cheshire Police have worked tirelessly to gather the evidence and present it to a jury.

"The statement of Alesha Ahmed, Shafilea's younger sister, was crucial to our case and today's result is a testament to her courage over the last two years."

Mr Whittaker also urged other victims of abuse to come forward.

He said: "There are many ways to describe what happened to Shafilea: child abuse, domestic violence and honour-based violence being just three. However you choose to characterise it, the CPS is committed to convicting perpetrators such as the Ahmeds.

"But to do that, we need victims and other family members to break ranks and give evidence as Alesha Ahmed did. If you do come forward, this case has shown that the justice system will not let you down.

"The word 'shame' has been heard many times during the course of this trial, but the shame is not on Shafilea, it is on her parents.

"Why did they abuse her? Why did they kill her? Put simply, it was because she challenged their regime and refused to conform to their expectations. She wanted to choose how she lived her life and who she married, choices that are fundamental freedoms for any citizen of the United Kingdom.

"There is no honour in murder and Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed are now starting life sentences for abusing and killing their daughter."

Police inquiries into the so-called "honour killing" were frustrated for eight years until Alesha finally revealed that she and the rest of her siblings had witnessed the murder.

They had been too frightened to reveal the truth because their father had threatened to kill them too.

Mrs Ahmed always supported her husband’s claims that Shafilea had merely run away from home.

But in court she dramatically changed her story admitting she had seen him slap their daughter twice when she refused to name a boy who had rung her mobile phone.

She told the jury at Chester Crown Court how he had beaten Shafilea and that she was convinced he had killed her.

Shafilea had rowed with her parents over her defiance of traditional Pakistani culture and was worried that she would be forced into an arranged marriage before a family trip to Pakistan.

She had been secretly meeting boys since she was 16 in November 2002.

Both Mr Ahmed 52, and Mrs Ahmed, 49, denied murder but were convicted by the jury after a 10-week trial.

Mr Justice Roderick Evans said he would pass sentence at 2.15pm today.

As Iftikhar Ahmed was taken down to the cells, he turned to police officers sitting nearby and said: "F*** off."

Mr Justice Roderick Evans was due to impose the mandatory sentences of life imprisonment later this afternoon.

Speaking after the verdicts, Shafilea's close friend, Melissa Powner, read a statement to the media in which she paid tribute to the teenager and spoke about the pain of having to watch as her killers roamed free.

Miss Powner said: "We have waited for this day for many years.

"We have watched as her killers roamed free.

"Yet today we heard those important words - words that have finally brought our friend the justice she deserves.

"Shafilea was a caring, high-spirited and brave young lady - who, even in her toughest times, always strived to remain positive and hopeful that one day she too would be able to live the peaceful and happy life that she deserved.

"Shafilea was an amazing friend, who, no matter what her own situation was, would always strive to look out for others - a quality that we truly miss.

"We would cry together, laugh together and even on the odd occasion would sit, rushing some last-minute homework before next period (but that was not very often, as she was usually the goodie two-shoes that completed it on time!).

"Shafilea had a great sense of humour, a fun personality and great smile - and, although a cliched saying, she really could light up a room with her presence; therefore, I believe I speak for many when I say she is and always will be sadly missed."

She added: "Shafilea was an extremely intelligent young lady who we have no doubt would have accomplished her personal ambitions of becoming a lawyer - yet this opportunity was unfairly snatched away from her when her life was ruthlessly taken for reasons we cannot even begin to comprehend, reasons that, still, other young girls like Shafilea have to face on a daily basis behind closed doors.

"If there is one thing that we pray will come from this, it is that her beautiful face and tragic story will inspire others to seek help and make them realise that this kind of vile treatment, no matter what culture or background they are from, is not acceptable and there is a way out."

Jo Morgan, the current headteacher of Great Sankey High School, which Shafilea and her siblings attended, said: "My colleagues who taught and knew Shafilea tell me that she was a vibrant member of the school who had many friends and a great future ahead of her.

"The trial has been a difficult time for the school and wider Great Sankey community.

"This tragedy has affected us all in many different ways."

Edwina Harrison, independent chairwoman of the Warrington Safeguarding Children Board, added: "This is as tragic a case as any safeguarding authorities will ever have to deal with and its high-profile nature has inevitably caused both shockwaves and soul searching throughout the whole community.

"Although thankfully very rare, cases like this serve as a reminder that we all want the same thing - to protect and to keep safe all the children and young people in our town, particularly those who are more vulnerable because of their family circumstances.

"So much has changed here in Warrington during the last nine years since Shafilea's murder. Locally, the police, NHS and borough council work more closely together, sharing knowledge, strategies and training.

"In the health sector, Warrington hospital has an admissions policy that means all young people up to the age of 18 are admitted to a children's ward. And if a 16-year-old presented themselves to the council's housing team as homeless, a joint assessment would be carried out with a social worker present now.

"Sadly, there are no absolute safeguards but all agencies are committed to working together to spot the early signs, take action and provide timely and appropriate support to children who are vulnerable."

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