New inquest date set into wife murdered in street
A further inquest hearing into the death of a woman who was murdered by her husband in Bradford city centre has been set.
Habibur Masum, 26, repeatedly stabbed 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter after confronting her while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram on 6 April 2024.
Masum was found guilty of her murder on Friday after a three-week trial at Bradford Crown Court.
The inquest into his wife's death opened on 12 April 2024 but was suspended until the criminal proceedings concluded. At Bradford Coroner's Court on Monday, assistant coroner Angela Brocklehurst set a new hearing date of 29 July.
Ms Brocklehurst said that due to "the wishes of the family of the deceased" the new hearing would take place "for further consideration".
Masum, of Leamington Avenue in Burnley, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a bladed article but was convicted of murder after a trial.
He was also convicted of one count of assault by beating, making a threat to kill and stalking.
Ms Akter had been living in a refuge in the city since January after Masum held a knife to her throat at their home in Oldham.
Masum later confronted her in the city centre having tracked her through her phone location.
He pulled a knife from his jacket and stabbed her more than 25 times after she refused to go with him.
Masum has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on 22 July.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Man who stabbed wife in street guilty of murder
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man bailed over charges of spraying manure on road before Ballymena Pride parade
A 19-year-old man told police he sprayed hen manure over the streets of Ballymena as an 'act of protest' against the town's first Pride parade, a court has heard. Isaac Adams, of Lislaban Road, Cloughmills, appeared before Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday charged with a number of offences following Saturday's incident. The court was told that the 'prank' has backfired on the farm worker, after he was caught 'red-handed' by police wearing a balaclava and carrying two empty 25-litre jugs, which had contained manure, in the early hours of Saturday morning. He has been charged with criminal damage, possessing a lock knife and causing manure to be deposited on the road. The court heard that Adams admitted filling four or five drums of hen litter waste from his farm and pouring it over the road to disrupt the Pride parade taking place on Saturday afternoon. A number of references were handed into court, including 'six of his elders' from his local church, who said it was 'very much out of character'. A police constable confirmed to the court that on Saturday, June 28, at approximately 2.45am, police were patrolling in the town centre of Ballymena when they came across the defendant. He was found wearing a balaclava, carrying two empty 25-litre jugs, which he stated had contained manure, the court heard. The court was told the defendant admitted he had been spreading the manure over the surrounding roads in order to disrupt the Ballymena Pride parade, which was set to take place later that same day. The defendant was searched, and a lock knife was found in his pocket. He was arrested for criminal damage and possession of a bladed article. Whilst under caution, the defendant freely admitted that he had committed the act in protest against the upcoming parade later that day, the court heard. The court heard he admitted to spreading the waste manure in the town and told police he was not the only person involved. The court was further told Adams admitted to wearing the balaclava to conceal his identity, and he confirmed the manure was a hen litter waste. He said he had filled four or five drums of waste from his own farm, and he described it as a prank. Police opposed bail but said that the defendant does not have any criminal record, that the event has now passed and that another man, who was arrested on Saturday, has been released on police bail. Solicitor for the accused, Stewart Ballentine, told the court that Adams co-operated fully with police and made admissions. 'He indicated that he was foolish and stupid to get involved in this prank, as he describes it, but it obviously backfired on him,' Mr Ballentine said. The police constable agreed that the accused showed remorse. The court was told the accused is a maintenance engineer and works on the family farm and had been wearing work trousers at the time of the incident, which contained the lock knife. 'He's a man who has never been in trouble in life before,' Mr Ballentine added. 'He is in full-time employment. 'It wasn't a slurry tanker as such that was driving up the streets of Ballymena. These were some small canisters with hen manure in them. 'As far as the parade on Saturday was concerned, that was not in any way inconvenienced, and all persons who wished to attend were able to do so.' Photographs of the manure were handed into court. The court was told that it cost the local authority £788.39 to clean up the mess. Mr Ballentine added: 'His mother and father are concerned about this matter. They're both in the body of the court. 'I hand in a reference from his employer. He speaks highly of this young man, and also handed in references from six of his elders at his local church, who also say this is very much out of character. 'This man has never been arrested in his life before. He's had an experience of being detained in custody all over the weekend, and this is totally new to this young man, and hopefully, he will never be back. 'He comes from a very law-abiding stock, a family stock in the North Antrim area, and he's a hard-working young man, and really should have been at other, more productive things than this prank, which badly went wrong. The solicitor, who said his client had 'greatly assisted the police investigation', noted that someone else had been arrested in connection with the incident. 'I wonder what the evidence may or may not be in relation to that matter,' he said. 'But my client was the only man who was actually caught red-handed, so to speak, and he made full admissions right from the outset. 'He was pretty much caught in the headlights of the police vehicle and made full admissions and certainly he has learned, very sadly, lessons from his experiences over the last few days.' The court heard that the incident was organised over messages and phone calls. Adams was granted bail under a number of conditions, including that he reside at an address at Lislaban Road in Cloughmills, not to enter Ballymena, not possess a phone capable of internet access, and remain under curfew between 11pm and 5am. Adams was warned that breaching his bail conditions would not be considered a prank. A 20-year-old man who was also arrested in connection with the incident has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Jury deliberations underway in sex trafficking case
Jury deliberations began Monday in the sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Judge Arun Subramanian delivered instructions to the 12-member panel that will now decide his fate. The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul is facing five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Federal prosecutors say that for decades, Combs abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in drug-fueled marathon sexual encounters called "freak offs" and used his business empire, along with guns, kidnapping and arson, to control his victims. The prosecution rested its case after presenting over a month of graphic testimony from nearly three dozen witnesses. The defense rested without calling anyone — including Combs — to the witness stand. 'The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,' U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said during closing arguments. 'He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law. 'That stops now,' Slavik added. 'It's time to hold him accountable. It's time for justice. And it's time to find him guilty." Marc Agnifilo, Combs's lead defense attorney, argued that Combs is a 'swinger' and a drug abuser guilty of past domestic violence, but not the 'leader of a criminal enterprise' as prosecutors portrayed him. 'He did not do the things he's charged with,' Agnifilo told jurors. 'He did what he did. But he's going to fight to the death to defend himself from what he didn't do.' Follow the live blog below for the latest updates culled from various reporters and news organizations in the courtroom, including ABC News, CNN, USA Today and the BBC. About three hours into its deliberations, the jury sent a second note to Judge Arun Subramanian saying it is concerned that one member of the panel can't follow his instructions. 'We have a juror, No. 25, who we are concerned cannot follow your honor's instructions,' read the note signed by the foreperson, who asked Subramanian to address the situation. The judge and lawyers for both sides are conferring on a response. Shortly after beginning its deliberations, the jury sent a note to Judge Arun Subramanian informing the court that it has selected juror No. 5 to be its foreperson. The foreperson serves as a chairperson or head juror, tasked with facilitating discussions during deliberations, signing any written note that the panel sends to the court and answering when asked by the judge if the jury has reached a verdict. Before court was adjourned for deliberations, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo asked Judge Arun Subramanian if Combs could take books back to his holding cell while he awaits the verdict. Subramanian granted the request. Throughout the trial, Combs has been seen in court holding a copy of The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, which is described by its publisher as "an engaging, deeply researched guide to flourishing in a world of increasing stress and negativity." After the jury left the courtroom to begin deliberations, Judge Arun Subramanian commended the attorneys for both the prosecution and defense for what he called "great lawyering." 'The case was really exceptionally tried by both sides in this case,' he said. After receiving nearly two hours of instructions from Judge Arun Subramanian, jurors have begun deliberating behind closed doors. The jury was provided with a laptop loaded with all of the exhibits shown in court during the six-week trial, including text messages, photographs and videos of the sexual encounters at the heart of the case. There is no timetable for a decision. Subramanian told the 12-member panel made up of eight men and four womenthat they can choose how long to deliberate each day, and to send a note to notify the court when they've reached a verdict. Judge Arun Subramanian is reading aloud lengthy instructions to the jury on how the law applies to each of the charges. Combs is facing five criminal counts. Here is a rough breakdown of those counts and the maximum sentence he's facing for each. Combs has been charged with sex trafficking two former girlfriends — Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane.' Prosecutors allege Combs forced them to participate in the marathon sexual encounters with male escorts, which amounted to "commercial sex acts." Life in prison Prosecutors say Combs arranged for the transport of male escorts who were paid for sex with Ventura and Jane across state lines. 15 years in prison Combs has been accused of 'conspiring with others to conduct and participate in the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity.' Prosecutors allege that Combs conspired with members of his business empire, including assistants and bodyguards, to commit crimes. To convict, the jury must find that Combs agreed with at least one other member of the alleged criminal enterprise to commit two of eight underlying crimes within 10 years of each other. Life in prison In addition to Combs's family members, including his mother and five of his children, members of the mogul's defense team were seen arriving early at the courthouse in lower Manhattan. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, carrying a brown messenger bag, waved off questions from reporters as he walked in. There's also a large media presence, as expected, as jury deliberations are set to begin. Judge Arun Subramanian reminded the jury that to find Combs guilty, the government needs to have proved Combs was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Subramanian defined "reasonable doubt" as doubt someone could feel after reviewing all of the presented evidence in a court case as to whether everything is 100% authentic and true. Combs's verdict must be found beyond a reasonable doubt, meaning the jury, after reviewing the evidence, hearing the testimonies and listening to the prosecution's arguments, must feel entirely confident that the defendant is either guilty or not guilty without any second thoughts. Subramanian reminded the jurors that they will be examining two kinds of evidence in this case: direct testimony from witnesses and whether the witnesses who testified are actually credible. "There is no magic formula," Subramanian told the group. After receiving the instructions from Judge Arun Subramanian, the 12 jurors will meet to deliberate the case. The jury, which is made up of eight men and four women, must unanimously decide whether Combs is guilty or not guilty on each of the five counts he's charged with. If the jurors cannot unanimously agree on one or all of the counts, they are encouraged to continue deliberating. However, if it seems nearly impossible for the group to agree — which is called a hung jury — it goes back to Subramanian, who has to decide whether to declare a mistrial. Sean Combs's sons, Quincy and Christian, and his eldest daughters Jessie, Chance and D'Lila, arrived at the Manhattan courthouse this morning, alongside Combs's mom, Janice. Christian, 27, released a song under his rapper name "King Combs" with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, on Friday called "Diddy Free." It features a chorus with the lyrics 'Ain't goin' sleep till we see Diddy free.' Judge Arun Subramanian will be giving the jury instructions before it begins deliberations. The pre-scripted instructions for the jury are expected to take over an hour for Subramanian to read. Last week, Subramanian said the jury will determine its own schedule for the deliberations. After defense attorney Marc Agnifilo wrapped up his four-hour closing argument on Friday, Subramanian told the legal teams he was going to emphasize to the jury that its focus should be on whether the prosecution actually proved each charge with evidence. Last week, the jurors heard lengthy closing arguments by the prosecution and the defense teams. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik argued in her closing argument on Thursday: Combs was the "leader of a criminal enterprise" who forced former girlfriends like Cassie Ventura and "Jane" to participate in drug-fueled sex marathons with escorts called "freak offs" and "hotel nights." Slavik revisited Ventura and Jane's testimonies for the jury, where they both claimed to be victims of physical and sexual abuse. "It is time to hold him accountable; it is time for justice," Slavik said. "And it's time to find him guilty." Combs's lead defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, presented the defense's closing argument on Friday, arguing the government's charges against Combs were inaccurate: While Combs personally used drugs and was guilty of domestic violence, he was not the "leader of a criminal enterprise" nor did he "do the things he's charged with." Ventura and Jane were part of a "swingers" lifestyle, which is why they participated in the "freak offs." "He sits there innocent," Agnifilo said. "Return him to his family, who have been waiting for him." Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench. He will give jurors instructions this morning before they start their deliberations in the case.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dad detained under Mental Health Act before death
A man died in hospital after being detained by police while under "acute mental distress", an inquest has heard. Kaine Fletcher died at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on 3 July 2022 after police were called by a family member over concerns for his wellbeing. On Monday, a jury inquest into the circumstances of the 26-year-old's death began at Nottingham Coroner's Court. The father-of-two had struggled with addiction and had also been diagnosed with the paranoid personality disorder in the years prior to his death, the court heard. The inquest was told Mr Fletcher had been retrained by police and detained under the Mental Health Act in the early hours on the day he died. Forensic pathologist Dr Michael Biggs said he was told by police Mr Fletcher had been restrained for his own protection. His medical cause of death was recorded as "the physiological effects of physical exertion combined with the toxic effects of cocaine and other substances". Mr Biggs said he was told by Nottinghamshire Police that officers had been contacted by a family member "concerned for [Mr Fletcher's] mental health" the day before he died. He was seen by a nurse that day, and it was concluded that he would get an appointment at a later date. The family contacted police in the early hours of the following morning saying he "may have taken drugs" and was displaying symptoms of a mental health "disturbance", Mr Biggs told the inquest. The pathologist said he was told Mr Fletcher became "more agitated" once outside the house leading to officers trying to restrain him. He was told by police that Mr Fletcher was "headbutting the inside of the police vehicle and attempting to bite his own fingers". He was taken to hospital where he "continued to be distressed" and that required police to remain at the hospital with him, the inquest heard. Over the course of the morning, Mr Fletcher "deteriorated" and was said to have gone into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at 11:49 BST. The pathologist said Mr Fletcher had more than 20 separate injuries including bruising to his arms and wrists, a split lip and head injuries that he said were "consistent with the scenario" he was given. A toxicology report showed Mr Fletcher had cocaine and a number of medications in his system at the time of his death, including medication prescribed for mental health issues. Mr Biggs said on the balance of probabilities, he could not say either physical restraint or the effects of the substances found would be enough alone to cause Kaine's death but agreed that restraining somebody under the influence of drugs and mentally unwell "could be dangerous". Mr Fletcher had been diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder in 2020 and had spent time at a rehabilitation clinic on two occasions, according to family statements read out in court. He was the eldest of eight children to his mum Leah Fletcher and grew up in a "big and close-knit family" with his aunt and grandparents living on the same street in Strelley. In a statement read on Ms Fletcher's behalf, she said he was "the funny one in the family and very boisterous". Ms Fletcher said her son had an interest in mechanics, a passion for rap music – which was "how he expressed his feelings" – and "loved dogs". She added that in Year 10 of secondary school, her son "got into the wrong crowd" and believed it was then he began to "experiment to cannabis". Mr Fletcher and his partner Shannon Wright moved in together and had a son in 2016, followed by the birth of their daughter in 2020. In her statement, Ms Fletcher said "upsets within the family were very hard" for her son – including the death of his grandmother when he was 19, his daughter contracting meningitis as a newborn, and Ms Fletcher herself suffering a "traumatic brain injury" in 2021. Mr Fletcher began to "self-medicate with cocaine and alcohol" with his mum describing "episodes" when he would become "hard to recognise". His dad, Nathaniel Ameyaw, arranged for him to go to a residential rehabilitation service which had helped Mr Fletcher, but he went on to relapse. Mr Fletcher eventually went to stay with his mum, then moved to the young people's charity YMCA before he died. In a statement read out my Mr Ameyaw, on behalf of Mr Fletcher's partner Ms Wright, she said: "Despite his struggles with addiction and his mental health, Kaine did try his best and he was a really good dad. "It's heartbreaking to know that [he] won't be there for the big milestones: he didn't get to see [our daughter] start nursery, he will never see them start secondary school, go to prom, graduate from university, get married. "He will never be able to be a granddad. I'm sure that will stay with the children for the rest of their lives." If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Inquest set into death of man after police detention HM Courts & Tribunals Service
