PuNjabi_RaNi*
January 9th, 2008, 03:24 PM
A Muslim teenager who was killed and her body found dumped on a riverbank was terrified of being forced into an arranged marriage, an inquest has heard.
http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/ne/itn/20080109/12/631120763-murdered-teen-claimed-parents-beat.jpg?x=300&y=225&sig=3mCzd4kRywIrmYxEyfxePA--
Shafilea Ahmed, 17, told friends she was subject to domestic abuse, that she had drunk bleach and self harmed as she became depressed about being forced to marry.
Police launched a murder investigation when her body was found five months after she disappeared in September 2003. Her parents were arrested on suspicion of kidnap but released without charge. The investigation remains open.
The inquest into her death was told yesterday that she ran away for a week with a boyfriend before a family trip to Pakistan in February 2003, when she was introduced to a potential husband.
The hearing was also told her death was the result of being smothered or strangled and it was "not credible" she died of natural causes.
Supt Geraint Jones, of Cheshire Police, said: "Various people tell us she's been running off because she's scared of being married. She made disclosures to professionals in school and friends that she's getting frightened of being forced into marriage."
He said officers arrested her parents after they received statements alleging Miss Ahmed suffered "domestic abuse" and was being forced into marriage.
He said it was suspicious that she went missing "at a time when she just started making contact again with friends" after going to Pakistan, drinking a caustic substance and self harming.
"My suspicion grew and grew and I was satisfied there were grounds to suspect there was involvement in her disappearance," he said. Supt Jones said the family made no attempt to contact Miss Ahmed on her mobile phone. Five months after she vanished, her body was found on a Cumbria riverbank.
Police launched a murder investigation and her parents, Iftikhar, 44, and Farzana, 41, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping her but later released without charge.
The inquest was told that her body could have been dumped close to the River Kent at Sedgwick, near Kendal.
Witnesses said they noticed a smell from the area five months later before a workman found her corpse.
Dr Alison Armour said it was "not credible" that the teenager died of natural causes. However, she could not give a cause of death.
The skull and her internal organs were missing, some of her bones had been washed away and the upper part of her body was extremely decomposed, she said. She told the south Cumbria coroner, Ian Smith, that she was most likely smothered or strangled.
Mr Ahmed, a taxi driver, said his daughter was a "normal, bright child" who wanted to become a solicitor. She was no trouble as she grew up but "problems arose" when she began sixth form. He said he was surprised when Miss Ahmed, who lived in Warrington, Cheshire, with her parents, three sisters and brother, went missing.
As well as her parents, five relatives, believed to be from Bradford, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. They were released without charge.
The case continues.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/09/nahmed109.xml
Another young life gone to waste - what a damn shame, the pressures of culture pushes kids beyond limits these days :no: WTF were her parents thinking?
http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/ne/itn/20080109/12/631120763-murdered-teen-claimed-parents-beat.jpg?x=300&y=225&sig=3mCzd4kRywIrmYxEyfxePA--
Shafilea Ahmed, 17, told friends she was subject to domestic abuse, that she had drunk bleach and self harmed as she became depressed about being forced to marry.
Police launched a murder investigation when her body was found five months after she disappeared in September 2003. Her parents were arrested on suspicion of kidnap but released without charge. The investigation remains open.
The inquest into her death was told yesterday that she ran away for a week with a boyfriend before a family trip to Pakistan in February 2003, when she was introduced to a potential husband.
The hearing was also told her death was the result of being smothered or strangled and it was "not credible" she died of natural causes.
Supt Geraint Jones, of Cheshire Police, said: "Various people tell us she's been running off because she's scared of being married. She made disclosures to professionals in school and friends that she's getting frightened of being forced into marriage."
He said officers arrested her parents after they received statements alleging Miss Ahmed suffered "domestic abuse" and was being forced into marriage.
He said it was suspicious that she went missing "at a time when she just started making contact again with friends" after going to Pakistan, drinking a caustic substance and self harming.
"My suspicion grew and grew and I was satisfied there were grounds to suspect there was involvement in her disappearance," he said. Supt Jones said the family made no attempt to contact Miss Ahmed on her mobile phone. Five months after she vanished, her body was found on a Cumbria riverbank.
Police launched a murder investigation and her parents, Iftikhar, 44, and Farzana, 41, were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping her but later released without charge.
The inquest was told that her body could have been dumped close to the River Kent at Sedgwick, near Kendal.
Witnesses said they noticed a smell from the area five months later before a workman found her corpse.
Dr Alison Armour said it was "not credible" that the teenager died of natural causes. However, she could not give a cause of death.
The skull and her internal organs were missing, some of her bones had been washed away and the upper part of her body was extremely decomposed, she said. She told the south Cumbria coroner, Ian Smith, that she was most likely smothered or strangled.
Mr Ahmed, a taxi driver, said his daughter was a "normal, bright child" who wanted to become a solicitor. She was no trouble as she grew up but "problems arose" when she began sixth form. He said he was surprised when Miss Ahmed, who lived in Warrington, Cheshire, with her parents, three sisters and brother, went missing.
As well as her parents, five relatives, believed to be from Bradford, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. They were released without charge.
The case continues.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/09/nahmed109.xml
Another young life gone to waste - what a damn shame, the pressures of culture pushes kids beyond limits these days :no: WTF were her parents thinking?