SHAFILEA TRIAL: Alehsa told teacher her parents killed her sister (From Warrington Guardian)

Latest on Great Sankey High School teenager Shafilea Ahmed case

3:04pm Friday 8th June 2012 in News

A FORMER assistant head teacher at Great Sankey High School has told of the moment Alesha Ahmed told him her parents had killed her sister.

Michael Duggan appeared at Chester Crown Court today and recounted an incident on September 12 2003, the week after sister Shafilea was allegedly murdered.

He received reports Alesha had been arguing with other pupils and as form tutor went to speak to her.

"I asked her to stay behind because she was obviously very upset. She felt as though people were being a little bit unkind to her.

"There was obviously something on her mind. She then went on to say things about her home life, about how Shafilea had gone missing.

"She said her dad was angry and if anybody asks say he killed them and chopped them up into small parts. It took me aback. I asked her if she was being serious and she said well, no."

The court heard that Alesha continued to speak to Mr Duggan and became happier. She left school in a good mood.

A week later she told Mr Duggan Shafilea had called her but then hung up before they spoke. She later described clothes she had taken with her.

During proceedings Me Duggan described Alesha as 'quiet, extremely polite' and 'guarded' about what she said.

He added that as a teenager she failed to own up if she had done something wrong.

Earlier today the court heard from pathologist Alison Armour. She carried out the autopsy on Shafilea after her body was found in Cumbria in February 2004.

She said that the likely cause of death was 'strangulation' or 'smothering'.

Under cross examination Mrs Armour added that the 17-year-old did not die from natural causes.

Court has now been adjourned for the day and the trial will continue on Tuesday.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Farzana Ahmed, of Liverpool Road, Great Sankey deny murder.