Sister-in-law killer gets life

Foyez Ahmed

A man who murdered his sister-in-law while her children played upstairs has been jailed for life

Razu Khanum (38) was found covered in blood in her Glodwick home on the morning of June 8 by three of her four children, after they heard her screaming in pain.

Their uncle, Foyez Ahmed (31), was yesterday sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 22 years, after pleading guilty to her murder.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Ahmed, a Bangladeshi man who had been living in the house in Matthew Close owned by his brother and sister-in-law for about three months, “lost control” having become frustrated with his way of life.

John Wishert, defending, said Ahmed saw himself as having “no prospects, living without a passport, without a job, no home of his own and not likely to marry or settle down.”

Mr Wishert explained that despite Ahmed’s brother and sister-in-law giving him part time work in the Cheshire-based take away they owned, he felt he was being mistreated by them and had begun rowing with the couple.

On the morning of June 8, three of Razu’s children, a 17-year-old boy and two girls aged 10 and 13, plus her niece, were upstairs and had heard their mother and uncle sharing jokes and laughing. Razu’s husband was working in the family restaurant.

When interviewed, the children explained that soon after, they heard their uncle come upstairs and get something from his bedroom before returning downstairs. They then heard a series of loud bangs and screams.

Peter Wright, prosecuting, said that Ahmed had grabbed the bar of a dumbbell from his room which he then used to beat Razu around the head. He then went to the kitchen and grabbed an 18cm long carving knife, which he used to slit Razu’s throat.

The children saw their uncle leave the house from their bedroom window, and watched him use his phone to contact the emergency services. He told them he had killed someone.

One of Razu’s daughters went downstairs and found her mother.

Razu’s 17-year-old son immediately called the emergency services who gave him instructions on how to help his mother. She was taken to hospital but died from her injuries.

Ahmed was found shortly after in Fitton Hill, where he give himself in to police saying “I’m not a proper murderer, I’ve never done this before.”

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Gilbart QC said: “For this family to live with the knowledge that their wife or mother has been murdered is bad enough. To live with the knowledge that it was at the hands of a close family member must make it even less bearable.”