April 28, 2007
London, -- A father accused of strangling his
daughter then dumping her body in a suitcase in an
"honour killing" has told the Old Bailey of his love
for her.
Banaz Mahmod, 20, was allegedly strangled with a
boot lace in a murder planned by her father, Mahmod
Mahmod, 50, and uncle, Ari Mahmod, 53, because she
shamed their Kurdish family by leaving her husband
for Iranian Rahmat Suleimani.
But her father Mahmod, told a jury last week he
loved his six children and was happy about Banaz's
upcoming marriage to Mr Suleimani.
advertisement"It doesn't make a difference to me
where he came from," he said. "Rahmat was from a
well-known family and my daughter was in love with
him."
Mahmod said he allowed his children the same freedom
as other British families.
He told the court he received letters from members
of the south London Kurdish community complaining he
gave his five daughters too much freedom.
"The letters didn't make me change my mind," he
said.
"I did not withdraw permission for Banaz to marry."
And Mahmod told the court Banaz had invented the
stories to gain sympathy with the local housing
office, to help get her a council flat. |
Banaz Mahmod Babakir Agha, Found dead The daughter,
who had left her husband
The father- Mahmod Mahmod, who denies murder |
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