MOHAMMED INAYAT'S BRUTAL MURDER OF WIFE IN TYSELEY, BIRMINGHAM OVER DAUGHTER'S DUBAI WEDDING

On the early morning of April 17th, a tragic and devastating fire erupted at a semi-detached house on Cateswell Road in the Tyseley area of Birmingham, resulting in the death of Naika Inayat, the wife of Mohammed Inayat. The fire was deliberately set by her husband, who poured petrol throughout their home and ignited it, leading to a catastrophe that claimed her life and caused severe injuries to other family members.

Mohammed Inayat, a 56-year-old man, had been consumed by anger and frustration over his daughter’s plans to marry her police officer lover in Dubai. The daughter, aged 30, had previously been involved in an arranged marriage in Pakistan, which she believed was intended to secure a UK visa for her spouse. However, she later divorced, and her plans to remarry in Dubai sparked a furious response from her father. Inayat viewed her second marriage as a dishonor to the family and reacted with intense hostility. Witnesses and court proceedings revealed that he had previously threatened her and even kicked her during arguments, expressing his disapproval of her love marriage.

On the night of the fire, Inayat’s actions resulted in a blaze that spread rapidly through the house, forcing three daughters and a family friend to leap from the first-floor windows to escape the flames. One of his daughters sustained burns covering 45 percent of her body, and Naika succumbed to smoke inhalation after becoming trapped in an upstairs bedroom. The court heard that the fire was started at approximately 5 a.m., with investigators discovering seven separate points of origin within the house, all ignited with petrol. A petrol canister was found in the shed, which had been recently used, but there was no evidence of petrol-powered garden equipment or other appliances in the house.

Initially, Inayat claimed that two robbers had tied him up, placed a gun at his head, and demanded money, suggesting he was a victim of an attack. However, as the investigation progressed, he admitted to pouring petrol across the house and igniting it himself. He also inflicted superficial burns on his arms, legs, and face, attempting to portray himself as an innocent bystander caught in the blaze. Despite this, forensic and police evidence clearly indicated that he deliberately set the fire out of anger over his daughter’s plans to remarry and move to Dubai.

During the trial at Birmingham Crown Court, the jury unanimously convicted Inayat of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 22 years before he is eligible for parole. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Johal of West Midlands Police, stated that Inayat’s anger was directed at his daughter’s second marriage, which his wife Naika supported. He explained that Inayat’s threats and hostility were well known, but no one believed he would carry out such a violent act.

Detective Johal emphasized that there was no credible evidence supporting Inayat’s initial story of being attacked by robbers. The police found a petrol canister in the shed, which had been recently used, but no petrol-powered tools or garden equipment were present in the house. Inayat attempted to claim mental illness as a defense, but psychiatrists concluded that he was mentally competent and capable of acting with intent to kill or seriously harm his family.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Inayat outside the house, with a mattress pushed against the building, provided by a neighbor to cushion the fall of those who jumped from the windows. The investigation revealed that seven separate fires had been started within the house, all using petrol, in various rooms including the hallway, lounge, kitchen, front bedroom, and rear bedroom. Inayat was arrested at a hospital on April 19th and subsequently charged with murder.

The court also learned that his daughter’s second marriage was a source of great distress for the family. Her previous marriage in Pakistan was believed to have been arranged to facilitate her visa application, but after divorcing her husband, her relationship with her father deteriorated further. His reaction to her second marriage was driven by a desire to protect family honor and prevent shame, even if it meant resorting to violence.

In his closing remarks, Detective Chief Inspector Johal highlighted that Inayat’s attempt to claim mental illness was rejected by the court, which found that he intended to kill his wife and endanger his family’s lives. The life sentence handed down reflects the severity and brutality of his actions, which left a lasting scar on the family and the community.

Following the sentencing, the Inayat family issued a statement expressing their grief and relief. They stated, “We are very pleased with today’s sentence and whilst this will not bring back our beloved Naika, we hope it sends out a message that abuse of this kind, of any kind, will not be tolerated by good men and women. There are many lessons which can be drawn from this, also by public agencies, including the need to be more vigilant to the trauma and distress that exists within our communities.” Naika Inayat’s memory remains cherished by her family and friends, who continue to mourn her loss and seek justice for her tragic death.