AMMAZ QURESHI FROM PINNER AND LONDON INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AND MANSLAUGHTER CASE

In May 2014, a tragic and disturbing case unfolded involving the death of a 21-month-old toddler, Hunaina Chaudhry, in Norway, with significant connections to London and Pinner. The incident drew widespread attention due to the brutal nature of the abuse and the chilling circumstances under which the child's life was taken.

Yasmin Chaudhry, the child's mother, and her British partner, identified as Ammaz Qureshi from Pinner, were both sentenced to lengthy prison terms—eight and nine years respectively—after being convicted of manslaughter. The Norwegian court found that while the death was not premeditated, the actions of the couple constituted gross negligence and child abuse that ultimately led to the child's demise.

The court's verdict detailed the horrifying sequence of events that culminated in Hunaina's death. It was established that Yasmin Chaudhry, under the influence and instructions of Qureshi, who was watching via Skype from London, deliberately submerged her daughter's head in a bucket of water. This act was carried out twice in an attempt to discipline the child after she interrupted a video chat. The court emphasized that such an act, especially on a child of approximately one and a half years old, served no reasonable purpose and was an act of cruelty.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m., according to police reports, when the toddler's crying interrupted the online conversation. In response, Yasmin Chaudhry, following Qureshi's online instructions, plunged her daughter's head into the water. When Hunaina lost consciousness, her mother called emergency services, initially reporting a domestic incident rather than the child's severe injuries. Despite medical intervention, the toddler succumbed the following day due to cerebral oedema, a swelling of the brain caused by the trauma.

Further investigations revealed that the child had been subjected to prolonged and horrific abuse over the last six months of her life. Yasmin Chaudhry admitted to using brutal disciplinary methods, describing her daughter as a 'difficult child.' She recounted instances of slapping Hunaina hard on the buttocks or face, forcing her to sit naked in the shower while being hosed with cold water, and gagging her with adhesive tape when she cried. The child was also subjected to cruel punishments such as being forced to eat teaspoons of chili powder, being confined to a corner of the living room for extended periods, and being strapped tightly into a chair.

Sleep deprivation was a recurring theme in the child's suffering. She was made to sleep on the floor instead of a bed, and at times, her mother would stuff a sock into her mouth to keep her quiet. The abuse extended to physical restraint, with her legs and arms bound with rope for hours while her mother and Qureshi watched via Skype. The escalation of punishments included splashing or spraying her face, then immersing her head under running water, and ultimately, using a bucket as a tool of abuse.

Qureshi, a married accountant from Pinner who had previously been accused of beating two of his wives, played a disturbing role in this case. From London, he provided advice on disciplinary matters, despite having no expertise or authority on such issues. The court heard that Qureshi and Yasmin Chaudhry met through Facebook in autumn 2009, introduced by Chaudhry's brother, a school friend of Qureshi. Their relationship developed into an affair, and they collaborated in the online discussions about punishing Hunaina.

Both defendants were convicted of manslaughter because the court determined that there was insufficient evidence to prove they intended to kill the child. The sentences handed down were notably lighter than the prosecution's request of 16 and 18 years, reflecting the court's view that the acts, while heinous, did not amount to premeditated murder. Yasmin Chaudhry's cooperation with police led to her being sentenced one year less than Qureshi.

During the trial, Qureshi's lawyer, Vibeke Hein Baera, stated: “He denies the accusations of premeditated murder and assault. My client is baffled that he is accused of a crime committed in a country which he — at that point in time — had never set foot in.” The case has highlighted the tragic consequences of online influence and severe child abuse, with the victims and their families left devastated by the events that unfolded across borders.