A Bradford man serving a life sentence for murdering his stepmother by strangling her with her own headscarf will not face a further trial over allegations involving indecent images of children.
Abdul Sami, 23, appeared by video link from HMP Leeds at Bradford Crown Court on Friday in relation to three charges of making indecent images of children.
The allegations, dating from August 2023, related to indecent images in Categories A, B and C.
However, prosecutor John Batchelor told the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Rose, that after careful consideration of the evidence the Crown would offer no evidence against Sami on any of the three charges.
Judge Rose consequently directed that not guilty verdicts be formally entered on all three counts and the planned trial was vacated.
Serving Life For Murder Of Stepmother
Sami is already serving a life sentence for the murder of his 41-year-old stepmother, Rizwana Kousar.
He was convicted following a trial at Bradford Crown Court earlier this year and sentenced in March to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years and 91 days.
Kousar was found unconscious at the family’s home on Kensington Street in Girlington, Bradford, on August 15, 2023.
She never regained consciousness and died in hospital two days later.
Sami denied murdering her, but a jury unanimously convicted him following deliberations lasting just under three-and-a-half hours.
Sami Called 999
During the murder trial, prosecutor Kama Melly KC told jurors that Sami called 999 shortly before midday on August 15.
He reported finding his stepmother “half in and half out” of a bath with her head submerged in the water.
The emergency operator instructed Sami to remove Kousar from the bath and begin CPR.
When paramedics arrived, however, one noticed a red mark across the front of her neck.
Sami maintained that marks on Kousar’s neck had been caused when he removed her traditional headscarf before attempting to resuscitate her.
The prosecution case was that he had instead used the headscarf to strangle her.
Pathology Evidence Presented To Jury
Jurors heard detailed pathological evidence concerning injuries to Kousar’s neck.
The prosecution said tiny haemorrhages identified during the investigation were consistent with between 10 and 30 seconds of “forceful uninterrupted pressure” being applied to her neck.
The jury rejected Sami’s account and convicted him of murder.
Internet Searches Revealed During Trial
Sami’s internet activity also formed part of the evidence presented during his murder trial.
His phone was examined by investigators, who discovered searches relating to inheritance dating from May 2023.
The court heard he had visited a website concerning the question of whether a killer could inherit from the estate of their victim.
He had also looked at information concerning inheritance for stepchildren.
On the day Kousar was attacked, Sami visited a website concerning the chances of survival if someone’s brain was starved of oxygen.
Sami told police that some of his searches concerned his biological mother, who died in 2019, while others resulted from things he had seen on television.
Family Said Kousar Was ‘Pure Of Heart’
At Sami’s sentencing, a victim impact statement from Kousar’s sister-in-law described the continuing impact of her death on the family.
“That she is gone is unimaginable. Her loss has impacted us every day and will do so forever,” she said.
She described thinking about Kousar’s final moments as “horrific” and accused Sami of repeatedly lying in an attempt to make the killing appear to have been an accident.
“She was pure of heart and had such a positive outlook on life. Always trying to see the best in people,” the statement said.
“She had so much to live for. You took it all away.”
Mr Justice Turner told Sami at sentencing that once he has served his minimum term, it will be for the Parole Board to determine whether he can safely be released.
The three separate indecent-image charges have now ended with not guilty verdicts after the prosecution offered no evidence.
