Father and uncle guilty of 'honour killing'
Ari Mahmod and Mahmod Mahmod will face sentencing in due course
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Monday, 11, Jun 2007 08:00
The father and uncle of a 20-year-old woman have been found guilty of murdering her over a relationship they did not approve of.
Ari Mahmod Babakir Agha, a 51-year-old businessman, and Mahmod Babakir Mahmod, 52, both of Mitcham, south London, were today found guilty of strangling Banaz Mahmod Babakir Agha to death.
Ari Mahmodm, the girl's uncle, was also found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at the Old Bailey. Another man, Darbaz Rasull, 24, of Hounslow, west London, was found not guilty of the same charge.
The court heard how the remains of Ms Mahmod were found concealed in a suitcase, buried six feet below ground in a house in Handsworth, Birmingham on April 27th 2006. She had been murdered at her Mitcham home three months earlier.
Ms Mahmod, an Iraqi Kurd, was first reported missing by her boyfriend Rahmat Suleimani, who was from an Iranian Kurd family, on January 25th when he expressed concern to police over her safety.
He told detectives that his relationship with Ms Mahmod had been met with disapproval from her family and the pair had been subject to threats shortly before her disappearance.
Police discovered that Mahmod Mahmod had ordered the killing of his daughter, which was carried out by others within the Iraqi Kurdish community.
Mohamad Marid Hama, 30, of South Norwood, south London, pleaded guilty to the murder in March this year. Police say two other outstanding suspects were also involved in the murder.
Pshtewan Hama, 26, of Hounslow, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice last October.
Speaking after today's verdict the Metropolitan police's senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Caroline Goode, said: "I am extremely pleased to see justice served for Banaz today."
She added: "Banaz was a loving, caring, young woman who had her whole life before her.
"Her life has been brutally cut short by the very people who should have loved and protected her - in any terms the ultimate betrayal."
Mr Suleimani said of his girlfriend: "I don't think I have loved anyone as much as I have loved Banaz.
"She was my first love. She meant the world to me. I don't think there are many couples
who could say that their love is stronger than mine and Banaz's."
Sentencing for the murder is due at a later date.
A number of Scotland Yard detectives are currently being investigated over allegations that they did not treat previous expressions of concern by Ms Mahmod as seriously as they should have done.