Father accused of murdering his daughter denies violence
Iftikhar Ahmed, 52, and his wife Farzana, 49, are on trial at Chester Crown Court charged with killing their daughter Shafilea, 17, in 2003.
They both deny the charges. However, this week, the jury of seven men and five women were told Mrs Ahmed had changed her account and said she witnessed her husband beat Shafilea on the night of the alleged murder. She also claimed he had threatened to do the same to her and their other children if she asked him what had happened to Shafilea. Mukhtar Hussain, QC, defending Mrs Ahmed, cross-examined her husband yesterday and accused him of being a violent and controlling man.
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Hide AdMr Hussain said: “You have controlled your wife and your children and have had absolute control until recently, haven’t you?”
“I have never had any control over anybody,” Ahmed replied.
Mr Hussain said: “The control has not just simply been exercised recently, but over many years with a degree of violence from you.”
Ahmed replied: “There’s never been any violence from me.”