Husband who killed wife in knife attack as she pushed pram jailed for life
Kulsuma Akter was left bleeding to death by 27-year-old Habibur Masum, who had stalked her to a women's refuge in Bradford and attacked her in broad daylight.
Masum, 27, was told he is "violent, self-centred, jealous, controlling and coercive" by judge Mr Justice Cotter on Tuesday as he was sentenced at the city's crown court.
The judge also told Masum: "You stole a precious young life in a brutal and merciless fashion."
Ms Akter's brother Emran Hussain said her death had left her family with "such a deep, painful void in our lives". Habibur Masum, 26, (centre) on a bus prior to him attacking his wife (Image: West Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)
In his sentencing remarks, the judge told Masum: "It is indeed a sad fact that it can be very difficult to entirely protect a woman in a refuge from a determined and cunning man intent on confrontation."
Mr Justice Cotter said the "nature and extent" of his attack "proves beyond all reasonable doubt that you intended to kill her".
The Crown Prosecution Service described the murder as "callous" and "shocking".
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Marie Walsh, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Habibur Masum is a violent and dangerous man who subjected his estranged wife to violence and domestic abuse causing her to flee their home to live in a safehouse in Bradford.
"Unable to accept the relationship was over, he managed to track her down and then stabbed her multiple times. This was a callous and shocking murder for which Masum has now been jailed by the court.
"We hope the imprisonment of Masum has brought some comfort to the family and friends of Kulsuma." Habibur Masum, 26, at the moment of his arrest in a car park near to Stoke Mandeville Hospital (Image: West Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)
The family of Kulsuma say they have been left with a "painful void in our lives".
"Kulsuma was a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt and mother. Her loss has left a gaping hole in the lives of all her family and friends," they said in a statement.
"We have been left with a profound sense of emptiness and a deep and painful void in our lives. She was a loving, caring and kind soul with a generous nature, and touched the lives of everyone she came into contact with. As a family we miss her beautiful smile which would light up any room she entered. We will miss her humour, her kindness and her love. Habibur Masum appearing in the dock at Bradford Magistrates' Court, West Yorkshire (Image: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)
"We will never forgive the monster who took Kulsuma from us and we do not wish to utter his name. It does not deserve to be mentioned. The monster who savagely took Kulsuma from not only us, but also from her baby son.
"He will never know her beauty and her kindness. He will never know his mother, other than the memories we as a family will share with him as he grows. He is the only light in all this darkness and Kulsuma radiates throughout him.
"Although we are grateful for the judicial process that found him guilty of this crime and for the sentence he has received today, no amount of time in prison will change the life sentence he has inflicted upon us all.
"No family should have to endure the pain and heartache we have had to endure since he took Kulsuma's life so horrifically. We can only try and keep her memory alive by continuing to love her and to remember her name."
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Book of evidence served on alleged Kinahan cartel figure Sean McGovern
A book of evidence has been served on alleged Kinahan cartel figure Sean McGovern relating to the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. McGovern, 39, of Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, who was extradited from Dubai earlier this year, appeared before the three-judge Special Criminal Court on Monday. He is charged with the murder of Mr Kirwan on December 22, 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin in Dublin. Mr McGovern is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the same murder between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016. He is further charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the surveillance of James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017. He is also charged with contributing to or participating in activity intending or being reckless as to whether such activity would facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan. He faces a similar charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately. The book of evidence relating to the Kirwan murder was served on the accused on Monday morning, defence counsel Keith Spencer said. A second book of evidence will be served in October via electronic means. Counsel reiterated the defence's plan to contest the legality of McGovern's extradition from Dubai in May of last year. Counsel noted that this legal challenge could be brought before the Special Criminal Court or another appropriate court. McGovern was remanded back in custody to Portlaoise Prison to appear before the court again in October. Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Indian man still 'severely traumatised' after racially motivated attack
An Indian man who was brutally assaulted in a racially motivated attack has been left 'severely traumatised" by the incident. The father-of-one was on his way to the Vinayaka Hindu temple in Kingswood, south Co Dublin when he was set upon by a gang of vicious youths who stripped him, beat him, and stabbed him in the face in the Kilnamanagh area at around 6pm on Saturday, July 19. The shocking attack occurred in broad daylight by a roundabout in Parkhill Lawns just before the entrance to Kilnamanagh opposite the busy Kingswood Luas stop. The innocent victim was attacked amid completely false claims by the attackers that he had committed a sexual act at the local playground. The man's company is now making arrangements to have him accommodated - as he's too 'scared' to even leave his current home following the horrific attack. Local councillor Baby Pereppadan, who knows the victim, said the terrified man only arrived in this country a month ago - and now efforts are being made to bring his family to him. 'He came only four weeks ago. His family are still in India. He's shocked. I spoke to his friend just yesterday. His company is arranging accommodation and also they're awaiting paperwork to get his family to come over here. He is scared. There is real trauma. His face is all swollen and he has not yet recovered." Cllr Pereppadan said the victim described to him how he was on his way to the temple at the Kingswood Community Centre when two groups of 'kids' approached him. 'There was two groups, altogether there was about 30 of them there. He was walking, they prevented him and were saying things like 'bloody Pakistani, bloody Indians'. He didn't say anything and then they hit his face first of all. He mentioned to me that this could happen to anybody.' L-R : Cllr Britto Pereppadan, Jennifer Murray and Cllr Baby Pereppadan Varghese. Jennifer saved an Indian man who was being attacked in Dublin The victim has expressed that he does not want to be identified or speak to the media about his horrific experience at this stage. The victim was rescued at the scene by brave local resident Jennifer Murray - who has described seeing him left naked and bloodied in the street. Speaking to The Irish Mirror, Ms Murray said she has continued to speak to the victim - who she said has been left severely traumatised by what happened. 'He doesn't want anybody to know anything about him. He's been very clear on that. He 100 per cent supports what I am doing getting awareness out there about the racism. He just kind of wants to focus on recovering for himself. He's severely traumatised,' she said. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Describing the incident previously Ms Murray, who helped the victim and saw him transported to hospital said the gang 'punched him in the head with what I can only say was blades between their knuckles. He went down, completely covered in blood. He's got massive injuries. The blood did not stop flowing from his nose the whole hour I sat with him. They stripped him of his clothes. They took his trousers off him. They took his underwear. They took his shoes. They took his phone. They took his bank cards. They took everything. They left him for dead… they very, very easily could have killed him with what they did,' she said. Gardai say they are investigating the alleged assault and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to come forward. Any person, including road users and pedestrians, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and who was travelling in the area between 6:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturday 19th July, 2025 is asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone who observed any unusual activity and/or anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Street Garda Station on (01) 666 6000, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. 'An Garda Síochána is appealing to people to not post or reshare social media content including footage related to this incident in order to protect the privacy of the victim involved,' a garda spokesperson said. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man avoids jail after assaulting ex-wife and restricting her food and heating
A man who restricted his wife's food and limited the heating in their home has been given a suspended sentence for coercive control and assaulting the woman. The Central Circuit Criminal Court heard that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on or about January 27, 2020, at their Dublin home. He also pleaded guilty to one count of coercive control. The court was told that the maximum sentence available is five years on each of the two counts. The man has no previous convictions in Ireland or any other jurisdiction. Detective Sergeant Stephen McDonald told Shane Costelloe SC, prosecuting, that a jury was empanelled earlier this year and a trial began. After the opening speeches, the defence team handed over a 'tranche' of material that had been downloaded and translated for the defence team. This material included voice notes and messages. The man agreed to enter pleas to the two charges and this was accepted by the victim. The court heard that the couple had an arranged marriage in 2019. The woman gave up her high-level job and moved to Ireland, where her husband had lived for most of his life. The woman felt isolated from her extended family and did not have any friends in Ireland. The man travelled for work and would be away for long periods of time. The woman would stay with his brother and mother while he was away. Their marriage became fraught, as well as the relationship with her in-laws. A security system was in place in the home with cameras placed both externally and internally. These cameras fed back to an app on the man's phone. The court heard that the charge of coercive control was a result of the woman being left isolated in the house and being told that she should remain inside. She felt that her husband was micromanaging her daily activities. Her daily food intake was restricted, along with the heating in the house. The woman assumed that the security system was monitoring all her movements and that he would be notified via the app on his phone. She relayed this to him, and he did nothing to disabuse her of this fact. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The woman began to feel physically and mentally unwell and had a feeling of anxiety. She believed he was using this to control her. She also had no financial independence. On or about January 27, 2020, there was a verbal altercation between the then-couple, which resulted in the man grabbing the woman by the arm and twisting it behind her back, resulting in pain, swelling and bruising. The woman read her victim impact statement to the court, which said: 'I lived life in colour. "I had a lot of friends. I was a very happy person. I was loved by everyone in my family. I never had tears in my eyes, people know me because of my smile - my smile was part of my personality. 'When I was 27, I got married to this person. I can't even say his name.' She said she can still feel the pain of what he has done and that he destroyed the 'smiley girl' she used to be. 'No one would ever recognise me as the girl I was in (her native country), he destroyed her, and I miss myself,' she said, adding: 'I will never forgive him.' Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said the man had restricted his wife's food and heating and allowed her to believe she was under surveillance over a period of about six weeks. He accepted that the assault was not pre-meditated. The judge set a headline sentence of nine months for the assault and a headline concurrent sentence of 18 months for the coercive control. He said comparing this case to other similar cases, this case was 'on the lower part of the spectrum'. Mr Justice Naidoo said he was considering the plea of guilty entered in 'very unusual circumstances' as being a plea that must be treated as 'being of real value'. He further acknowledged that the man has no previous convictions, has not come to Garda attention since and that there were testimonials before the court which described him as a man who can be trusted and who has previously supported his family and his community. Mr Justice Naidoo said a report before the court concluded that the man has shown remorse for his conduct towards his former wife and now is more emotionally mature than he previously had been. He accepted that, based on this report and the testimonials before the court, the man's behaviour was 'out of character and his remorse is genuine'. Mr Justice Naidoo imposed a sentence of six months for the assault and a concurrent term of 12 months for the coercive control before he suspended the 12-month term in full on strict conditions for two years. The man must engage with the Probation Service for those two years. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
