Father accused of murdering his daughter denies violence

A FATHER accused of murdering his daughter because she brought shame on the family has denied being a “violent man” and called into question his wife’s “mental state”, a court heard yesterday.

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.

Mr 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.”