Nasim Jamil's phone 'lucky' find for man

A MOBILE phone belonging radio presenter Nasim Jamil, who was murdered in her own home, was found on derelict land in the east end of Glasgow.

Malcolm Mitchell, 47, told a murder trial at the High Court in Glasgow that he came across a holdall containing a handbag, the phone and a claw hammer at a four-acre site at Hunter Street, Glasgow, in March this year.

But in court yesterday he said the hammer, which was on display, was not the one he had found.

Mitchell was giving evidence at the trial of Khalid Sarwar, 29, who denies murdering 54-year-old Awaz FM agony aunt Nasim Jamil in her flat in Byres Road, Glasgow, on 9 December last year.

Mr Mitchell told prosecutor Dorothy Bain QC that he was searching for items which he called "luckies" to sell to get money when he stumbled across the holdall.

He said: "I took the phone and the money." He told the jury he also kept a key ring with the words Awaz FM on it because he liked the look of it. He used the money, a 10 note, some change and a $50 note, to buy alcohol.

Mr Mitchell used the phone to call his daughter and when new information was obtained in the case in September this year police traced him through his daughter's phone number.

Mr Mitchell was shown the bag with the hammer in court and said he had never seen them before.

He said that the hammer was not the one he had seen in the holdall in March.

When asked by defence QC Donald Findlay what he had done with the hammer in the holdall Mr Mitchell replied: "I threw it away."

The trial before Lord Brodie continues.