OFFENDER MOHAMMED RASHID'S SENTENCE BOOST AFTER WIFE KILLING CASE
A man who received a life sentence for fatally stabbing his wife has had his minimum detention period extended following the emergence of new evidence.It was revealed that the couple's children, aged six and four, witnessed the attack and tried to shield their mother, contrary to earlier reports.
Sughra Rani, 30, was killed at their residence in Banbury in 2008.
The court was informed that the children told their caregivers that they had seen the violence and had attempted to protect their mother during the incident.
Originally, Mohammed Rashid, 35, was sentenced without this information, but the verdict was reconsidered after it came to light that he falsely stated his children did not see the attack and that they were upstairs during the event.
Judge Julian Hall described the case as 'troubling' and increased Rashid’s sentence by two years prior to hearing about parole, bringing the total to 15 years and two months.
The judge noted Rashid's allegations of protecting his children from witnessing the violence were untrue and accused him of deliberately misleading the court.
Evidence from foster carers challenged Rashid’s previous claims of shielding his kids from the scene, and the children later explained that they heard a noise and came downstairs.
The six-year-old reportedly tried to protect his mother and had blood on his clothes, while his sister said her brother had blood on his tummy from attempting to hug their mother.
Bloodstained clothes belonging to the boy were found at the scene, and Rashid admitted to officers that he embraced his son after the stabbing.
The judge dismissed Rashid’s explanation that he was unaware of being bloodied and concluded he intentionally provided false information.
The assault was characterized as 'ferocious and brutal,' with the increased sentence reflecting both the new evidence and the traumatic impact on the family and victims.
