20/07/2007

Father jailed for life for honour killing

A man has been jailed for life for the 'honour killing' of his daughter.

Banaz Mahmod, 20, was strangled and buried in a suitcase in Birmingham because she had a boyfriend whom her father disapproved of. During the trial, it was revealed that she was raped and tortured before her death.

She had disappeared last January and her body was discovered in a garden in Birmingham three months later.

Mahmod Mahmod, 52, from Mitcham, south London was jailed for life, along with his brother Ari, 51, also from Mitcham, who helped to arrange the murder.

A third killer, Mohammed Hama, 30, from West Norwood, south London, was also jailed for life over the murder. He had pleaded guilty before the trial began.

Mahmod Mahmod was ordered to serve a minimum sentence of 20 years, while Ari Mahmod was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years.

Hama was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years.

The court heard how Banaz's father, an Iraqi Kurd, had ordered his daughter's death after discovering her relationship with another Kurd Rahmat Sulemani.

She had asked police for help four times - even providing officers with a list of five men she believed would try to harm her, which included Hama and three other men who have fled abroad - but was not taken seriously.

Mr Sulemani recorded a video of Banaz talking about her fears for her life, while she was in hospital following a previous attempt on her life.

The film was played in court and helped to convict her killers.

Judge Brian Barker described the murder as "barbaric and callous" and said that both Mahmod and Ari had more respect for their community than their own flesh and blood.

Five police officers are facing the threat of disciplinary action following the trial.

(KMcA/JM)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 June 2007
Girl's relatives found guilty in honour killing
A father has been found guilty in what is described as an "honour killing" of his daughter. Mahmod Mahmod, 52, the girl's father and Ari Mahmod, 50, her uncle, from Mitcham in south London were found guilty of the murder of Banaz Mahmod aged 20. A third man Darbad Mares-Rasull was found not guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
09 July 2010
Teen Gets Life for Sisters' Arson Murders
A teenager who took revenge on his ex-girlfriend for dumping him by setting fire to her house, killing both her and her older sister, has been jailed for life. Akmol Miah, 15, was found guilty of murdering Maleha Masud, 15, and her 21-year-old sister Nabiha, who died after the fire at their home in Tooting, south London, last June.
05 March 2012
Couple Accused Of Witchcraft Killing Jailed For Life
The couple that murdered a teenage boy they accused of using witchcraft have been jailed for life. Fifteen-year-old Kristy Bamu and four of his siblings were visiting his sister Magalie Bamu, 29, and her partner Eric Bikubi, 28, when he was killed.
30 September 2010
Nurse Jailed For Life For Killing Parents
A Bournemouth nurse has been jailed for life for murdering her parents. Susan Toop, 54, killed her parents by stabbing them and hitting them with an iron. The couple, Arthur Toop, 82, and his wife Joan, 74, were found dead at their bungalow in Bournemouth in November last year.
19 September 2007
Grandmother Jailed For Life For 'Honour Killing'
A grandmother has been jailed for life for ordering the murder of her daughter-in-law in a so-called 'honour killing'. Bachan Athwal, 70, from Hayes, west London, was told that she must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison for ordering the murder of Surjit Athwal, 27, who disappeared after attending a wedding in India with her in December 1998.