Uncle guilty of murdering niece, 20, in 'honour killing' after she refused forced marriage to a cousin

14 March 2023, 18:32

Mohammed Taroos Khan is convicted of killing Somaiya Begum in Bradford
Mohammed Taroos Khan (L) is convicted of killing Somaiya Begum (R) in Bradford. Picture: West Yorkshire Police

By Chris Samuel

A man has been found guilty of murdering his niece in a "violent attack" before dumping her body on wasteland "like rubbish", after she refused a forced marriage to a cousin.

Mohammed Taroos Khan, 53, killed biomedical student Somaiya Begum, 20, at her home in, Bradford, West Yorkshire, on June 25, 2022.

Ms Begum's body was found just over a mile from her home, 11 days after she went missing, following a major week-long police search.

Earlier in the trial, jurors were shown CCTV footage which prosecutors said showed Khan dragging his niece's body from his car before dumping it on waste ground.

Khan denied murdering Ms Begum, but admitted perverting the course of justice by disposing of her body and trying to burn her mobile phone.

Read more: 'I was expecting a longer sentence': Mum of fantasist jailed for rape lies says she must 'accept' her daughter's crimes

Read more: 'Unsafe and unprofessional': White House's fury after Russian fighter jet collides with US unmanned aircraft

On Tuesday, a jury found him guilty of murder after a trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC said Ms Begum had been living "happily" with another uncle and her grandmother due to a Forced Marriage Protection Order.

Mr Pitter said this was court-imposed after her father attempted to arrange a marriage to a cousin from Pakistan "by threat of violence".

Mohammed Taroos Khan
Mohammed Taroos Khan. Picture: West Yorkshire Police

Ms Begum's uncle "bundled up" her body and it was "dumped and left to rot and decompose on wasteland like rubbish, such that she was not recognisable", he said.

Mr Pitter said the body was discovered on land used as a dumping ground wrapped in a rug and tied up with string, Mr Pitter said.

He said that her body was so decomposed that it wasn't possible to determine how she died, but there was a 11cm long, metal spike embedded in her chest which had punctured her lung.

The prosecutor said the defendant had been subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from attending his niece's street.

He explained to the jury that this order had been in place since 2016, after Khan was convicted of punching his own daughter before holding a knife to her throat and threatening to "chop her up".

Khan's defence counsel Zafar Ali KC suggested Ms Begum's “humiliated” father had a “motive” to kill her after she’d refused to participate in the marriage he’d arranged for her years earlier.

Somaiya Begum
Somaiya Begum. Picture: West Yorkshire Police

He also told the court that her father had taken a "one-way" ticket to Pakistan not long before the trial began without giving his family a reason.

But the jury decided on the strength of the evidence, that Mohammed Khan was guilty of his niece's murder - following his initial arrest on July 6, 2022.

Mr Pitter suggested that Khan may have murdered his niece in an 'honour killing'.

"It may be that as part of it he advances issues in relation to the family's culture and religion which may have been the misguided justification to kill her," he said.

"We suppose in the context of the inappropriately named 'honour killing'.

He added: "Whatever his motive, because it was him, even if others, as he may seek to say, were involved, it was not honourable."

Khan will be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Josef Fritzl

Incest monster Josef Fritzl could walk free from prison next year - and expects 'cheering crowds' to greet him

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver supports an extension to term times

'Time to think about school holidays': Ofsted's Chief Inspector supports extending term times

Exclusive
Angela Rayner insisted that British support for Ukraine was 'unwavering'

Rayner insists UK support for Ukraine 'unwavering' despite Trump's plan for 'immediate' peace talks with Putin

Prince William, President of BAFTA, operates a film camera as he visits the London Screen Academy in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William tries his hand at being a cameraman on visit to London film academy

President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.

Trump and Putin to 'start negotiations immediately' over ending war in Ukraine - with US President to visit Moscow

Street scene in Peckham, London, with red bus

Bus driver, 76, found guilty of killing passenger who was run over while attempting to board vehicle

Norward Road, Lambeth, the proposed LTN.

Council staff given 'wellbeing day' after attending 'stormy' neighbourhood meeting

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, shakes hands with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey prior to a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb.

Ukraine's NATO membership plans 'unrealistic' says US - as defence secretary claims US troops won't be peacekeepers

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Officer accused of pinning down and trying to kiss soldier, 19, had been 'waiting for moment for them to be alone'

A public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks'

Public inquiry into Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks', PM tells victims' families

Paul Allen.

Cagefighter guilty of Britain's largest cash robbery shot in neck in his kitchen in murder plot

Lucy Harrison

British woman, 23, dies after being shot dead at dad's US house as 'utterly heartbroken' family pays tribute

Ragley Hall, Warwickshire.

Earl sues parents over 'trauma' for not being gifted £85 million Warwickshire estate

d

Outrage as auction house flogs Nazi memorabilia including Göring's dinner plate, Luftwaffe dagger and Swastika bunting

An asteroid could hit earth in 2036.

NASA makes 'emergency' decision over asteroid the size of Big Ben that could strike Earth

German police officer in front of a crowd

German school on lockdown after 'armed teenager' targets female pupil - as police hunt suspect