A Pakistani national has been jailed for life in the United Kingdom (UK) for murdering a woman and dumping her body in a suitcase on the highway. Muhammad Arslan, 27, was convicted of the murder of 21-year-old Hina Bashir after a three-week trial at the Old Bailey. He was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Arslan, described as “obsessed” with the victim, killed her by forcibly placing a face mask in her mouth, resulting in asphyxiation. He now faces life imprisonment, with a minimum of 20 years to be served.
During the trial, Arslan admitted to the crime but denied the charge of murder. However, compelling evidence presented by the prosecution linked him to the crime. This evidence included the victim’s blood on his bed, matching face masks found at his residence (including the one used to silence her), and the defendant’s DNA on the handle of the suitcase used for hiding the body.
Smartphone evidence revealed that Arslan had taken possession of Hina’s phone and read her messages to other men while she was missing.
Arslan claimed that his actions were unintentional, stating that he confronted Hina over explicit photos she had received from other men and tried to silence her when she became angry. However, the prosecution dismissed his explanation as a fabrication and argued that he killed her out of jealousy.
The court was informed that Arslan and Hina had grown up in the same village in Pakistan, and despite their five-year age difference, he had become close to her during their teenage years.
The evidence, according to the prosecution, pointed to Arslan’s obsession with the victim. Hina arrived in the UK from Pakistan in November 2021 to pursue in business management studies. Several months later, Arslan announced also went to UK and expressed his intention to marry her. She was, however, involved with another student and did not reciprocate Arslan’s feelings.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, who headed the investigation, verified Arslan’s “obsession” with the victim, saying he told people they were engaged.
Source: Pro Pakistani