Man found guilty of murdering Glasgow radio presenter Nasim Jamil

THE children of a radio presenter said today that justice had been done after the man who murdered their mother was jailed for life.

• Khalid Sarwar and his victim, Nasim Jamil

Khalid Sarwar, 29, was told he must serve at least 20 years behind bars after he was found guilty of the murder of Nasim Jamil, 54, the Crown Office said.

During the trial, the High Court in Glasgow heard that Mrs Jamil died from blunt force injuries to her head.

Forensic pathologist Dr John Clark, 59, who is based at the University of Glasgow, said the rounded nature of some of the 55 wounds indicated they were "almost certainly" inflicted by a hammer.

Her body was discovered by daughter Nazia Jamil, 36, at the flat they shared on Byres Road in Glasgow's west end.

Mrs Jamil was a widow who presented an agony aunt show on Asian radio station Awaz FM.

In a statement released after the sentencing today, her family said: "These past 10 months have been so difficult to get through due to the loss of our mother, who was our strength, our backbone, our best friend.

"She was a bubbly character who was very caring, loving and understanding. She was someone who always had time for everyone and someone who will be very sorely and deeply missed. Life will never be the same without her.

"Khalid Sarwar took away from us the one most important person in our lives in a very cold and brutal way. Something we would not wish upon anyone.

"Although we will never get our mother back and she will never see her grandchildren, which is so heartbreaking, finally justice has been done."

Sarwar had denied murdering Mrs Jamil and had lodged a special defence of incrimination.

During the trial Mrs Jamil's son Omar, 31, told the court how he met the accused while working at a credit services firm between 2002 and 2003 and he became one of his best friends.

Mrs Jamil took him under her wing after Sarwar told her how his parents and brother were dead and he was living with his aunt and uncle, he said.

Breaking down in tears, the witness said: "My mum was a very loveable character.

"On hearing the story, she thought 'oh my God, he's staying without the majority of his family in his life', so my mother took him under our wing."

Speaking after the sentencing, Lesley Thomson, area procurator fiscal for Glasgow, said: "Mrs Jamil was a respected member of the Asian community within Glasgow and well-known to many through her radio show.

"She had treated Khalid Sarwar like a son, allowing him into her home and providing both emotional and financial support to him over a number of months.

"He repaid her kindness and generosity by entering her home and subjecting her to a brutal and sustained attack with a hammer and other weapons, and killing her.

"Khalid Sarwar has consistently denied any part in the killing, despite overwhelming evidence against him, and tried to blame others for it."

A statement from Awaz FM said: "We are pleased with outcome of the case and our thoughts are with the Jamil family at this moment. We hope that this verdict will bring closure to this sad and tragic event and allow the Jamil family and Awaz FM to move on."