Murder of Somaiya Begum

Murder of Somaiya Begum
Location	Bradford, England
Coordinates	53°47′48″N1°44′03″W / 53.7967530°N 1.7341604°W / 53.7967530; -1.7341604
Date	June 25, 2022 (2022-06-25)
Attack type	Domestic homicide, Stabbing, Blunt trauma
Deaths	1
Convictions	Murder (sentenced to Life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years)

The murder of Somaiya Begum occurred in June 2022 in Bradford, England. ^{[1] [2]} Somaiya, a 20-year-old biomedical science student at Leeds Beckett University, was reported missing on 25 June 2022, and her remains were later found near Fitzwilliam Street in Bradford. ^[3] West Yorkshire Police investigated, leading to the arrest of her uncle, Mohammed Taroos Khan, who was convicted of her murder. ^[4] In 2023, Khan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years at Bradford Crown Court, ^[5] following a trial that included evidence related to family disputes. ^[6]

Background

Somaiya resided on Binnie Street in Bradford with her grandmother and an uncle after no longer living with her immediate family due to personal and legal disagreements. ^[7] In 2019, at age 16, she was placed under a Forced Marriage Protection Order (FMPO) following her father's attempt to arrange her marriage in Pakistan. ^[8] The order prohibited her from being taken out of the country or compelled into marriage. Her extended family had a history of disputes involving cultural expectations, personal autonomy, and financial issues. ^[9] These disputes remained unresolved until her death in June 2022. ^[10]

Murder

According to Home Office forensic pathologist Kirsten Hope, a cause of death of unable to be determined due to the advanced decomposition of the body, especially of her head and neck, by the time it was found. ^{[11] [12]} A 10.7-centimetre (4.2 in) spike was found lodged in Somaiya's back, and it had entered into her lung. ^[13] Her body was wrapped in a carpet and then dumped in "waste ground" (unused area) and buried in rubbish. ^[14]

See also

• Domestic violence in the United Kingdom
• Forced marriage
• Honor killing

References

1. Vinter, Robyn (15 March 2023). "Somaiya Begum: man jailed for life for murder of niece who refused marriage". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 20 March 2025.
2. "Somaiya Begum Murder: Uncle jailed for niece's 'dreadful' murder". Asian Standard Newspaper. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
3. "Somaiya Begum: Uncle appears in court charged with Bradford woman's murder".
4. "CPS statement following conviction and sentence of Mohammed Taroos Khan | The Crown Prosecution Service". www.cps.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
5. "Somaiya Begum: Uncle guilty of killing niece who refused marriage". 14 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
6. "Uncle accused of murdering Yorkshire student, 20, with a metal spike in dispute over forced marriage". Yorkshire Post. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
7. Norden, Jasmine; Corcoran, Sophie (16 March 2023). "Evil uncle sentenced for brutal murder of Somaiya Begum". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
8. "Man jailed for life for murdering his 20-year-old niece who had refused marriage". Sky News. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
9. Prem, Aneeta (17 March 2023). "Somaiya Begum murder". Freedom Charity. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
10. "Update on bid to increase jail term for Somaiya Begum's killer uncle". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
11. Haratt, Stuart (1 March 2023). "Somaiya Begum: Murdered woman dumped like rubbish, jury told". BBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
12. Haratt, Stuart (2 March 2023). "Somaiya Begum: Pathologist unable to say how woman died, court told". BBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
13. "Somaiya Begum: Uncle who killed niece who refused marriage jailed". BBC News. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
14. Higgins, David (15 March 2023). "'Despicable' uncle who murdered niece and dumped body with rubbish jailed for life". The Independent. Retrieved 28 March 2025.