6:23pm Friday 20th July 2012
By Matthew Hobbs
FARZANA Ahmed says she believes her husband killed daughter Shafilea, a court has heard.
The 49-year-old, who denies murder, told Chester Crown Court this afternoon she realised a week after her daughter's disappearance on September 11 2003 that Iftikhar Ahmed was responsible.
He denies murder.
She said: "Because I didn't hear anything from her he probably had killed her."
Farzana claims she has covered up the murder for eight years because she feared what would happen to her and her other children. She has now broken her silence because she wants 'justice' for the 17-year-old. Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said: "So for seven years you brought up your three daughters with a man you thought had killed their sister?" "What else could I do," said Farzana. "I was fearful he would do the same to us." "But surely that's the reason you had to say something, to keep those other little girls alive?," said Mr Edis. Farzana said she was too scared. But Mr Edis said she was 'changing her tune' because she 'did not want to face the music' of a murder charge. The court heard that Farzana was also concerned that if she walked out on her husband what effect that would have on their family in Pakistan. Her sister is married to Iftikhar's brother and own property there. Mr Edis accused her of lying when she changed her defence statement last week and said: "You thought that a joint ownership of land in Pakistan was more important than protecting your daughters' lives. Farzana said: "I admit my children's lives were more important to me than the land in Pakistan. "
"But that's exactly what this case is about,"said Mr Edis. "You thought that things in the village in Pakistan were more important than Shafilea's life. "I was worried about the lives of my sister, my children and other family members," said Farzana. "You thought that keeping the family together was more important than the safety of your daughter," replied Mr Edis. "No, in our culture a woman can't live alone," said Farzana. "In Shafilea's culture a woman can live alone because she is from Warrington," said Mr Edis, who contined 'and that's what you couldn't stand'. He added that's why Farzana said 'let's finish it' on the night of Shafilea's disappearance. "That's why you both killed her," finished Mr Edis Farzana replied: "I didn't kill her, I'm saying it again I had no involvement." She will continue to give evidence on Monday. The trial continues.
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