Jilted killer of mother-in-law is jailed for life

A JILTED husband who stabbed his mother-in-law to death after she helped her daughter escape their unhappy arranged marriage was jailed for life yesterday. Muhammad Tafham, 31, must serve at least 21 years for the murder of Rahman Begum, a mother of five.

Ms Gulraiz entered into an arranged marriage in Pakistan with her cousin Tafham in 2013. (Image: PA)

The 46-year-old was found in a pool of blood in her kitchen at home in Rochdale – just days after her daughter had fled to move back in with her long-term boyfriend.

She had suffered three major stab wounds to the front of her body, with one cutting her heart in two.

Manchester Crown Court heard Mrs Begum had told her 25-year-old daughter Aysha Gulraiz: “Don’t ruin your life. Go live it.”

Earlier the court was told how Ms Gulraiz entered into an arranged marriage in Pakistan with her cousin Tafham in 2013 but he did not join her in the UK until September 2016.

The couple needed to live together for three years so Tafham could stay in the country but they constantly argued and eventually Ms Gulraiz asked him for a divorce, which he refused.

She went back to her long-term boyfriend in Bradford on February 4 and two days later her mother helped trick the defendant into leaving their home while her daughter returned to collect her belongings.

When Mrs Begum was found dead the next day CCTV showed Tafham was the last person to see her alive.

He had waited until she was alone in the house after taking her daughter to school before he knocked at the door. He then stabbed her with a 12-inch kitchen knife.

He put the knife in her hand to make it look like suicide, unplugged the CCTV that covered the front of the house and ed the scene 45 minutes later, going to visit his cousin.

Mrs Begum was found dead the next day CCTV showed Tafham was the last person to see her alive. (Image: PA)

Tafham initially told police he did not know who had killed her but had fled the property thinking he would be blamed.

He later claimed she had killed herself due to depression.

Sentencing, Judge John Potter told him: “Your wife had left you and was living elsewhere with another man. That meant your visa arrangements had been breached, leading to the prospect of deportation.

“What was said in the house between the two of you is known only to you, but it seems clear to me that you confronted Mrs Begum.”