"Animals Would Treat My Daughter Better" says father of Lady Who was Suffocated to Death, Killer Sentenced To Life

A man with an obsessive nature was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 21-year-old Hina Bashir. 

Muhammad Arslan, 27, suffocated her wit a face mask out of jealousy and anger, subsequently disposing of her body in a large suitcase. 

As her heartbroken father delivered a poignant victim impact statement, he lamented that even animals would treat his daughter better than her "evil" killer did.

Arslan's crime unfolded when Ms. Bashir visited his shared flat in Ilford, east London.

He claimed that his intention was merely to subdue her with the face mask after confronting her about explicit photos that had been sent to him. 

However, the prosecution dismissed his explanation as fabricated and insisted that he had murdered her due to his emotions of anger and jealousy.

During the trial, Arslan pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied charges of murder and perverting the course of justice by concealing Ms. Bashir's body. 

On Wednesday, a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of the charges. 

Consequently, Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years for murder and five years concurrently for perverting the course of justice.

In a heartrending victim impact statement read out in court, Bashir Khan, Ms. Bashir's father, expressed the immense grief enveloping his family. 

They were deeply devastated and their hearts shattered beyond words. 

Arslan's actions were labeled as heinous and brutal, and Mr. Khan proclaimed that even animals would treat his daughter better than her callous killer did.

Arslan, during his testimony, claimed to have been friends with Ms. Bashir since she was 11, and he harbored romantic feelings for her, despite cultural constraints that prevented open interaction. 

While acknowledging that his perception of her as his fiancée was a fantasy, he still desired a relationship with her.

Judge Marks asserted that he was convinced that Arslan's unrequited feelings for Hina escalated, leading him to forcefully insert a face mask into the back of her mouth, resulting in her collapse and eventual death by asphyxiation. 

The judge noted that Arslan's primary motive following the murder was self-preservation, prompting him to engage in a campaign of lies to conceal his actions, and subsequently disposing of Ms. Bashir's body in a shocking and cold-hearted manner.

The court learned of Arslan's infatuation and obsession with Ms. Bashir, which were clearly not reciprocated. 

The judge expressed skepticism regarding Arslan's claim that he had received explicit photos of Ms. Bashir before the attack, as no such evidence was ever recovered.

The impact of Ms. Bashir's untimely demise reverberated through her family. Mr. Khan described the profound effect on his wife, who has been hospitalized multiple times and relies on medication. 

Their children are now afraid to go out alone. 

Mr. Khan felt emotionally unable to support them during this challenging time. 

He expressed his inability to face people and recount the nightmare they had endured. 

The loss of their beloved daughter had shattered their lives, leaving a deep void that could never be filled.

Mr. Khan reminisced about his daughter, describing her as a beautiful and vibrant young woman who brought laughter and joy to their family. 

He spoke of her dreams and aspirations, mentioning her plans to pursue a Ph.D. before returning to Pakistan. 

They were immensely proud of her accomplishments, especially as she was the only girl from their village to study in the UK.

The ordeal began when Ms. Bashir was reported missing, leaving her family feeling helpless while they were in Pakistan. 

Sleepless nights and feelings of despair plagued them until the discovery of her body. 

Mr. Khan shared the emotional burden he carried, having to inform his wife of the distressing court proceedings each day, carefully shielding her from the most harrowing details.

Mr. Khan's anguish was compounded by the fact that he had to sit in the same room as the man who had mercilessly taken his daughter's life. 

He expressed his utter disbelief and disgust at Arslan's lack of remorse, emphasizing that even animals would have treated his daughter with more kindness and respect.

During the hearing, Arslan remained devoid of emotion, and his defense barrister offered no mitigating factors on his behalf. 

The sentencing was witnessed by six jurors who had followed the trial closely.

Throughout the trial, it emerged that Arslan and Ms. Bashir had grown up in the same village in Pakistan. 

They had initially developed a friendship through text messages when she was just 11 years old. 

Arslan nurtured an unrealistic belief that they were engaged and destined to have a future together. 

However, Ms. Bashir rejected his advances, maintaining a relationship with a boyfriend in Pakistan and later in the UK after she moved there to pursue her studies.

Arslan, driven by his obsession, followed her to the UK and enrolled in a university program while working part-time. 

His phone revealed a deep fixation on Ms. Bashir, filled with declarations of love and shock upon learning of her involvement with someone else.

The night of the tragedy unfolded when Ms. Bashir, accompanied by two friends, visited Arslan's flat to collect her belongings. 

Tragically, she never emerged from the apartment, and her friends were forced to leave without her. 

The subsequent investigation revealed that Arslan had suffocated her and concealed her body in a suitcase overnight.

The prosecution presented evidence of Arslan's attempts to cover his tracks, including deleting his contacts from Ms. Bashir's phone, lying to the police about her disappearance, and making inquiries about travel destinations. 

The extent of his obsession became evident through the numerous photographs of Ms. Bashir found on his phone, some of which featured heartfelt collages adorned with love hearts.

Following Arslan's conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams reflected on the case, emphasizing the extent of Arslan's obsession and his inability to cope with rejection. 

The investigative team was resolute in building a compelling case, ensuring that justice was served for Hina Bashir. 

Their thoughts remained with her family and friends, who were grappling with an unimaginable loss.

The tragic story of Hina Bashir's murder serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of unchecked obsession and the devastation it can bring to individuals and their families. 

The court proceedings revealed the depth of grief experienced by Hina's loved ones, as they continue to navigate the profound void left by her absence.