EDINBURGH MAN CONVICTED OF WIFE’S BRUTAL HAMMER MURDER
A man has been convicted of intentionally killing his wife in their Edinburgh flat by inflicting fatal blows with a hammer.Yahya Babiker, 45 years old, was found guilty at the High Court in Perth by a jury that reached a unanimous decision, confirming he was responsible for the attack on his wife, Randa Kamblawi, 34.
The case uncovered details about the murder, including that Babiker purchased a claw hammer from a DIY store shortly before committing the act.
He assaulted his wife as she lay in their bed, delivering at least five strikes that caused severe fractures to her skull.
After killing her, he dragged her into the bath to presumably conceal evidence and then fled with his children to a relative’s home.
Surveillance footage showed Babiker attempting to book a flight to Paris, but he only had enough money for a ticket to Heathrow, which led him to travel to London.
He subsequently returned to Edinburgh and turned himself in to police, revealing that her body was still in their home.
At first, he told the authorities that she had slipped and fallen in the bath, but the jury rejected this explanation as untrue, recognizing that the evidence pointed to premeditation and malicious intent.
It was established that Babiker had bought the murder weapon days earlier and that his actions indicated 'evil intent.' Lady Stacey stated the only appropriate sentence was life imprisonment, with the minimum term to be decided after further reports.
The court is to hear sentencing on 29 June at the Edinburgh High Court.
Detective Inspector Gary Cunningham, who led the investigation, described Babiker’s act as brutal and carefully planned, linking his flight attempts to his criminal intent.
The verdict was interpreted as a significant step toward aiding the family of Randa Kamblawi and her children, who lost their mother in what has been described as a 'monstrous act.'
