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Husband jailed for murdering wife

The husband of a woman who was stabbed to death at their Manchester home has been jailed for life for her murder.

Malik Mannan, 36, must serve a minimum of 17 years for killing Sabina Akhtar, 26, at their Levenshulme home, the judge at Manchester Crown Court said.

Mrs Akhtar had reported him to police and told them he had battered her 25 times and made threats to kill her.

Mannan was ordered to stay away from her but repeatedly breached his bail conditions, the court heard.

Speaking outside the court, Mrs Akhtar's uncle accused the CPS of negligence.

Reaz Talukder said his niece would still be alive today if her husband had been charged after being arrested for a second time.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said it will apologise to Mrs Akhtar's family as it admitted it was "wrong" not to charge Mannan earlier.

In a statement following the verdict, it said: "The CPS has thoroughly investigated the matter and we accept that the wrong decision was made not to charge Mr Mannan at an earlier stage.

"Sabina Akhtar's family has been contacted and a meeting is being arranged at which the CPS will apologise to them for the way the case was handled."

During the trial, Manchester Crown Court heard the couple had an arranged marriage in Bangladesh in 2003.

Mrs Akhtar joined her husband in England two years later, when she was pregnant with their son who is now three.

She then discovered her divorcee husband was a confirmed gambler and also had a long-standing mistress with whom he had two young children.

'Cowardly attack'

Prosecutor Paul Reid QC said Mrs Akhtar contacted police two months before her death and told them her husband had assaulted her 25 times.

The jury heard that he would squeeze her windpipe when they were arguing and made at least three threats to kill her.

He also assaulted his mistress in the same way.

Mannan attacked his wife at the family home on Charlton Road on 11 September, stabbing her through the heart.

He made arrangements to flee to Bangladesh following the murder but was arrested by police the next day.

Senior Investigating Officer Dave Hickey said: "Mannon clearly intended to leave the country with his young son after murdering his wife.

"Throughout their marriage he controlled Sabina, using threats and violence on many occasions.

"This was a cowardly attack on his wife, who was already vulnerable, and is an example of domestic abuse at its most horrific.

"I hope Sabina's family can now take some comfort from the fact Mannan is facing a long time behind bars, where he can't hurt anyone else."


THE BBC.CO.UK