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Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside 'Crossbow Cannibal' flat where evil PhD student butchered sex workers
The stench was the first thing that struck the police officers as they stormed into Stephen Griffiths' compact Bradford flat - a blend of decay and burnt flesh. It didn't take long to trace the nauseating smell back to the dismembered body of a woman, who Griffiths had been seen on CCTV dragging back to his den. Suzanne Blamires, 36, had vanished from Bradford's red-light district just days before. She had been enticed home by Griffiths, who had made friends with some of the sex workers operating in the streets surrounding his flat. Suzanne was captured on the same CCTV camera fleeing in terror from his foul-smelling flat, pursued by the murderer wielding a black crossbow. After rendering her unconscious in the hallway, the beast dragged Suzanne back inside, then smirked at the camera and raised his middle finger in a derisive salute, reports the Mirror. It wasn't until the building's caretaker casually reviewed the footage on the morning of Monday, May 24, 2010 - three days later - that he noticed the altercation. It was witnessing Suzanne's final act of courage, her attempt to escape, that ultimately led to the capture of the self-proclaimed 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Griffiths, a criminology PhD student who idolised Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, amassed an arsenal of weapons and books about murder, nurturing dreams of becoming a serial killer. As a child, he would torment animals, ripping the wings off birds and smashing his own pet rat with a hammer. His younger siblings were subjected to violence. Griffiths designed a system whereby he would award them 'points' for annoying him. After accumulating a certain number of points, he would launch a vicious attack on them, ignoring their sobs of pain. But even they could not have predicted the twisted crimes he went on to commit against at least three women. Now, 15 years on from the Bradford murders, a new Prime Video documentary looks back at how the killer was able to get away with his crimes for so long - crimes which would have a lifelong impact on everyone involved. After the shocked caretaker and his manager called 999 to report the chilling CCTV footage, Damien Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor with West Yorkshire Police, was tasked with planning and executing the raid to arrest Stephen Griffiths. His partner Adam Twigg was part of the ground team, poised to break down the killer's door and free the woman they hoped was still alive inside. Both men are speaking publicly about what they witnessed for the first time. "We had a collapsing time frame," says Damien. "We knew from the cameras that Suzanne hadn't left Griffiths' apartment over the weekend. The hope was that she was still alive." Firearms officer Adam and his squad broke through Griffiths' door only to find him sitting up in bed. "I gave him a gentle prod with the front of my gun to drive him to the floor," he remembers. A loaded crossbow was found near the scene, along with an array of hunting knives and shells. As officers subdued the murderer and handcuffed him, Adam knelt to inform him of his arrest. "I told him, 'Stephen, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.' And he just looked up at me and went, 'I'm Osama bin Laden.'". Adam's team then began a thorough search of the flat for any signs of Suzanne. The discoveries they made were chilling to the core. "One of them opened the microwave and immediately shut the door again," Damien recalls, describing how he could hear his team's reactions over the radio. "He said the flat was like something out of [horror film] Seven, blood smeared everywhere and crossbow bolts embedded in the walls. The smell was horrific - sweet and rotten. It was the smell of death." Adam proceeded to check the bathroom, which the murderer had ominously referred to as 'The Slaughterhouse. '. Blood was splattered across various surfaces, and a burnt quilt in the bathtub covered what remained of a rucksack. Griffiths was attempting to destroy DNA evidence from Suzanne's dismembered body parts, which he had packed into the bag to dispose of in the nearby River Aire. "There was a sizable portion of a brain in the microwave," Adam recounts. "And there was another portion of brain on a plate, on a coffee table in the front room, next to a pair of amputated breasts." The police also seized Griffiths' laptop and digital camera, which contained a trove of disturbing images and videos. In a horrifying case, Shelley Armitage aged 31, who had vanished a month earlier on April 26, 2010, was found deceased with 'My sex slave' etched into her flesh. She had been fatally shot with a crossbow by Griffiths, who then dismembered and partly consumed her. Griffiths, tagged as a sadistic schizoid psychopath since 1991, after he slashed a shop clerk's face during a theft, is known to have ended the lives of at least three women. Susan Rushworth, 43, fell victim to his hammer attack when she went missing on June 22, 2009. He chopped up her body, using machine tools, cooked, and ate parts of her remains; her remains have not been recovered. After his conviction, the merciless killer taunted her grieving family by withholding details of his vile act. Shelley was his second casualty, Suzanne his third. In a chilling moment of courtroom drama, Griffiths declared himself the 'Crossbow Cannibal' when questioned on his identity - a claim that Dr Nicola Davies, a behavioural scientist and psychological profiler, sees as a cover for his bruised ego. Dr Davies states: "Griffiths had invested so much of his identity into becoming what he saw as the ultimate predator," adding "He had rehearsed his fantasies, studied serial killers at PhD level, and created a mythologised version of himself online. Being caught destroyed that performance and he found that intolerable. "Griffiths wanted to be a serial killer and yet he only just achieved that definition - three murders - before the brave Suzanne Blamires ensured he was caught when she escaped his flat and his crime was recorded on CCTV. 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 "For a man who saw himself as untouchable and the ultimate predator, this would have severely hurt his ego – as would the fact that he 'underperformed' in comparison to his serial killer idols." After being found guilty in 2010, Griffiths received a rare whole-life order for the killing of Susan, Shelley, and Suzanne, thus ensuring he'll spend the rest of his days locked up, with no chance of release. The presiding judge labelled him "wicked and monstrous". He has since been implicated in the deaths of three other women, but defiantly refuses to assist police in their ongoing inquiries.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Crossbow cannibal cop found severed breasts on table and brain in microwave
Stephen Griffiths was caught because one of his victims managed to briefly escape from his home, before he dragged her back and killed her. Police officers investigating a serial killer were sickened by the foul stench from a dismembered body after tracking the murderous sex fiend back to his lair. Stephen Griffiths had dragged victim Suzanne Blamires back to his flat and had been captured on CCTV abducting the sex worker. Suzanne, 36, vanished from the red-light district near Griffiths' home. He had befriended some of the sex workers who plied their trade in the streets around his flat. Suzanne was seen on the same CCTV camera running in terror out of his stinking apartment, followed by the killer - brandishing a black crossbow. After knocking her unconscious in the corridor of his Bradford home, the monster dragged Suzanne back inside, before smirking at the camera and raising his middle finger in mock salute, The Mirror reports. It was only when the building's caretaker idly watched back the footage on the morning of Monday May 24, 2010 - three days later - that he noticed the altercation. It was seeing Suzanne's final act of bravery, when she tried to get away, that finally snared the self-dubbed 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Griffiths, a criminology PhD student, who hero-worshipped Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, stockpiled weapons and books about murder and harboured ambitions of becoming a serial killer. As a child, he would torture animals, pulling the wings off birds and taking a hammer to his own pet rat. His younger siblings were subjected to violence. Griffiths designed a system whereby he would award them 'points' for annoying him. After accumulating a certain number of points, he would launch a vicious attack on them, ignoring their sobs of pain. But even they could not have predicted the twisted crimes he went on to commit against at least three women. Now, 15 years on from the Bradford murders, a new Prime Video documentary looks back at how the killer was able to get away with his crimes for so long - crimes which would have a lifelong impact on everyone involved. After the shocked caretaker and his manager called 999 to report the chilling CCTV footage, Damien Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor with West Yorkshire Police, was tasked with planning and executing the raid to arrest Stephen Griffiths. His partner Adam Twigg was part of the ground team, poised to break down the killer's door and free the woman they hoped was still alive inside. Both men are speaking publicly about what they witnessed for the first time. He said: "We had a collapsing time frame. We knew from the cameras that Suzanne hadn't left Griffiths' apartment over the weekend. The hope was that she was still alive." Firearms officer Adam and his squad broke through Griffiths' door only to find him sitting up in bed. He said: "I gave him a gentle prod with the front of my gun to drive him to the floor." A loaded crossbow lay nearby, along with a cache of hunting knives and shells. Once officers got the killer on the floor and in handcuffs, Adam crouched down to read him his rights. I told him, 'Stephen, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.' And he just looked up at me and went, 'I'm Osama bin Laden'." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Adam and his team set about searching the flat for any trace of Suzanne. What they found would haunt them forever. Recalling how he could hear everything his team were saying over the radio, Damien said: "One of them opened the microwave and immediately shut the door again. "He said the flat was like something out of [horror film] Seven, blood smeared everywhere and crossbow bolts embedded in the walls. The smell was horrific - sweet and rotten. It was the smell of death.' Adam went to investigate the bathroom - which the killer had proudly dubbed 'The Slaughterhouse.' Blood was splattered over the surfaces and a charred quilt covered the remnants of a rucksack in the bathtub. Griffiths was trying to dispose of DNA evidence from Suzanne's body parts, which he'd stashed inside the bag to dump in the nearby River Aire. Adam said: "There was a sizable portion of a brain in the microwave. "And there was another portion of brain on a plate, on a coffee table in the front room, next to a pair of amputated breasts." Officers also recovered Griffiths' laptop and digital camera, which had a stash of disturbing images and footage. Shelley Armitage, a 31-year-old woman who had gone missing a month previously on April 26, 2010, was seen lying dead in his bath. She had the words 'My sex slave' carved into her chest. Griffiths had shot her with his crossbow, cut up her remains and cannibalised part of her body. At least three women met their deaths at the hands of Griffiths, who had been diagnosed as a sadistic schizoid psychopath in 1991, after slashing a shop clerk's face while shoplifting goods. He murdered Susan Rushworth, 43, with a hammer after she disappeared on June 22, 2009. He had dismembered her body using machine tools, before cooking and eating some of her flesh. No trace of her remains have ever been found. After being convicted, Griffiths taunted her devastated family, by refusing to tell them what he did to her. Shelley was his second victim and Suzanne his third. In court, Griffiths proudly proclaimed himself the Crossbow Cannibal in response to being asked his name - a boast that behavioural scientist and psychological profiler Dr Nicola Davies believes was actually designed to protect his shattered ego. 'Griffiths had invested so much of his identity into becoming what he saw as the ultimate predator,' she observes. 'He had rehearsed his fantasies, studied serial killers at PhD level, and created a mythologised version of himself online. Being caught destroyed that performance and he found that intolerable. Griffiths wanted to be a serial killer. "He only just achieved that definition - three murders - before the brave Suzanne Blamires ensured he was caught when she escaped his flat and his crime was recorded on CCTV. For a man who saw himself as untouchable and the ultimate predator, this would have severely hurt his ego – as would the fact that he 'underperformed' in comparison to his serial killer idols.' After his conviction in 2010, Griffiths was handed a rare whole-life order for the murders of Susan, Shelley and Suzanne, meaning he will die behind bars without ever being released. The judge described him as 'wicked and monstrous'. He has since been linked to the murders of three other women, but has refused to cooperate with police in subsequent interviews.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
He found brain in microwave and severed breasts on table in horror home
Serial killer Stephen Griffiths proudly proclaimed himself as the Crossbow Cannibal when he appeared in court charged with the murders of three women. Now as a Prime Video documentary looks back at his twisted crimes, the two police officers who caught him reveal the sickening sights inside his blood-splattered Bradford flat It was the smell that first hit the police officers as they burst through the door of Stephen Griffiths ' small Bradford flat - the scent of sweet rot and charred meat. And it wasn't long before the sickening odor was traced back to the dismembered body of a woman who Griffiths had been caught on CCTV dragging back to his lair. Suzanne Blamires, 36, had disappeared from the red-light district of Bradford days earlier. She had been lured home by Griffiths - who had befriended some of the sex workers who plied their trade in the streets around his flat. Suzanne was seen on the same CCTV camera running in terror out of his stinking apartment, followed by the killer - brandishing a black crossbow. After knocking her unconscious in the corridor, the monster dragged Suzanne back inside, before smirking at the camera and raising his middle finger in mock salute. It was only when the building's caretaker idly watched back the footage on the morning of Monday May 24, 2010 - three days later - that he noticed the altercation. It was seeing Suzanne's final act of bravery, when she tried to get away, that finally snared the self-dubbed 'Crossbow Cannibal'. Griffiths, a criminology PhD student, who hero-worshipped Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, stockpiled weapons and books about murder and harboured ambitions of becoming a serial killer. As a child, he would torture animals, pulling the wings off birds and taking a hammer to his own pet rat. His younger siblings were subjected to violence. Griffiths designed a system whereby he would award them 'points' for annoying him. After accumulating a certain number of points, he would launch a vicious attack on them, ignoring their sobs of pain. But even they could not have predicted the twisted crimes he went on to commit against at least three women. Now,15 years on from the Bradford murders, a new Prime Video documentary looks back at how the killer was able to get away with his crimes for so long - crimes which would have a lifelong impact on everyone involved. After the shocked caretaker and his manager called 999 to report the chilling CCTV footage, Damien Sharp, a former firearms tactical advisor with West Yorkshire Police, was tasked with planning and executing the raid to arrest Stephen Griffiths. His partner Adam Twigg was part of the ground team, poised to break down the killer's door and free the woman they hoped was still alive inside. Both men are speaking publicly about what they witnessed for the first time. 'We had a collapsing time frame,' says Damien. 'We knew from the cameras that Suzanne hadn't left Griffiths' apartment over the weekend. The hope was that she was still alive.' Firearms officer Adam and his squad broke through Griffiths' door only to find him sitting up in bed. 'I gave him a gentle prod with the front of my gun to drive him to the floor,' he remembers. A loaded crossbow lay nearby, along with a cache of hunting knives and shells. Once officers got the killer on the floor and in handcuffs, Adam crouched down to read him his rights. 'I told him, 'Stephen, I am arresting you on suspicion of murder.' And he just looked up at me and went, 'I'm Osama bin Laden.'' Adam and his team set about searching the flat for any trace of Suzanne. What they found would haunt them forever. 'One of them opened the microwave and immediately shut the door again,' says Damien, recalling how he could hear everything his team were saying over the radio. 'He said the flat was like something out of [horror film] Seven, blood smeared everywhere and crossbow bolts embedded in the walls. The smell was horrific - sweet and rotten. It was the smell of death.' Adam went to investigate the bathroom - which the killer had proudly dubbed 'The Slaughterhouse.' Blood was splattered over the surfaces and a charred quilt covered the remnants of a rucksack in the bathtub. Griffiths was trying to dispose of DNA evidence from Suzanne's body parts, which he'd stashed inside the bag to dump in the nearby River Aire. 'There was a sizable portion of a brain in the microwave,' remembers Adam. 'And there was another portion of brain on a plate, on a coffee table in the front room, next to a pair of amputated breasts.' Officers also recovered Griffiths' laptop and digital camera, which had a stash of disturbing images and footage. Shelley Armitage, a 31-year-old woman who had gone missing a month previously on April 26, 2010, was seen lying dead in his bath with the words 'My sex slave' carved into her chest. Griffiths had shot her with his crossbow, cut up her remains and cannibalised part of her body. At least three women met their deaths at the hands of Griffiths, who had been diagnosed as a sadistic schizoid psychopath in 1991, after slashing a shop clerk's face while shoplifting goods. He murdered Susan Rushworth, 43, with a hammer after she disappeared on June 22, 2009. He had dismembered her body using machine tools, before cooking and eating some of her flesh. No trace of her remains have ever been found. After being convicted, Griffiths taunted her devastated family, by refusing to tell them what he did to her. Shelley was his second victim and Suzanne his third. In court, Griffiths proudly proclaimed himself the Crossbow Cannibal in response to being asked his name - a boast that behavioural scientist and psychological profiler Dr Nicola Davies believes was actually designed to protect his shattered ego. 'Griffiths had invested so much of his identity into becoming what he saw as the ultimate predator,' she observes. 'He had rehearsed his fantasies, studied serial killers at PhD level, and created a mythologised version of himself online. Being caught destroyed that performance and he found that intolerable. 'Griffiths wanted to be a serial killer and yet he only just achieved that definition - three murders - before the brave Suzanne Blamires ensured he was caught when she escaped his flat and his crime was recorded on CCTV. 'For a man who saw himself as untouchable and the ultimate predator, this would have severely hurt his ego – as would the fact that he 'underperformed' in comparison to his serial killer idols.' After his conviction in 2010, Griffiths was handed a rare whole-life order for the murders of Susan, Shelley and Suzanne, meaning he will die behind bars without ever being released. The judge described him as 'wicked and monstrous'. He has since been linked to the murders of three other women, but has refused to cooperate with police in subsequent interviews.
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Enormous house explosion that put two in hospital 'was caused by gas used to make super-strength cannabis oil'
An enormous house explosion that hospitalised two people is suspected to have been 'caused by gas used to make a super-strength cannabis oil'. The blast on Thursday in Spring Hall Grove, Halifax, West Yorkshire, has left two men in a critical condition, with a 'large number of butane gas canisters' found in the wreckage. Up to 14 homes were evacuated by the explosion that appeared to rip off at least one home, sending debris into the streets. Now, the significant number of butane gas canisters found at the scene are believed to be evidence of mass production of Butane Hash Oil (BHO), a strong and concentrated cannabis extract. Known for its high THC levels, often exceeding those of traditional cannabis, the drug is typically consumed through dabbing, a relatively new method of ingesting the substance. Produced through a chemical process that uses butane to extract the oils from cannabis, the drug process has gained increased popularity across the UK, USA and Australia. Photographs taken in the immediate aftermath of the explosion showed hundreds of gas cannisters scattered across the scene, appearing to have been stored in an upstairs bedroom. In an updated statement on the explosion, West Yorkshire Police confirmed that a 'large number of butane gas cannisters' had been found at the property and that they were 'forming part of our ongoing enquiries'. The force, who said they were working alongside West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in investigating the fire's circumstances, also confirmed that two adult males had been taken to hospital with 'serious injuries' and that they 'remain in hospital in a critical condition'. Detective Chief Inspector Clare Smith added: 'We understand that there will be speculation in the community about what has happened and the cause of this explosion. 'We are working alongside specialist fire investigators to ensure a comprehensive investigation is carried out into this incident.' One local witness, who lives around 20 metres from the blast, described the explosion as 'like a nuclear bomb going off'. They added: Everyone was screaming "get out of the house". 'I got my kids out and we went in the back. There's bricks and tiles in the street, all the cars are dented, and there are butane gas canisters in the street. 'There was a family with children living next door to the house and a middle-aged woman with a dog. 'Our house was shaking and could feel the whole thing tremble when the first bang went off. The force, who said they were working alongside West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in investigating the fire's circumstances, also confirmed that two adult males had been taken to hospital with 'serious injuries' and that they 'remain in hospital in a critical condition' Pictured: the aftermath of the explosion which caused a huge fire with flames and smoke erupting into the sky 'I looked outside and there was fire everywhere.' Meanwhile, Sheena Bashir was awoken by the blast which happened less than a minute's walk from her home. Describing the explosion as 'unreal', she said: 'You see stuff like that in the movies, not round here. 'I was asleep and then I heard something like a bomb had gone off. I looked out of the window and could see the house was absolutely lit.' While Mrs Bashir was on the phone to the emergency services, smaller bangs after the initial blast could be heard. She said: 'There was one big bang and a lot of smaller ones.' Sophie Storer, 19, only moved to the street two weeks ago, and saw the flames after the explosion. She told MEN: 'I went upstairs about 12 and heard a massive bang. I looked out my window and I just saw red and orange rising up. 'My mum and Bougie were asleep. They came upstairs and we started filming to see what was going on.' Produced through a chemical process that uses butane to extract the oils from cannabis, the drug process of Butane Hash Oil (BHO) has gained increased popularity across the UK, USA and Australia. 'It's my birthday today and it's going to be a memorable one. It was a birthday with a bang for sure.' Shakes Hussain, 40, added: 'All the houses were shaking. I heard a big bang and then it was straight fire. 'It sounded like a big blast. I was scared, could hear people screaming. I got no sleep because I was scared and worried.' In a previous statement, West Yorkshire Police said that they had been called to the property at Coventry Street, Halifax, at 12.04am. They also confirmed that two people from one property had been taken to hospital with serious injuries, while a third person, from another property, had received treatment for minor injuries. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We sent five crews, plus the technical rescue and command unit. 'The explosion had affected six houses. Crews used large jets and an aerial ladder to extinguish the fire' A police corden continues to remain in place on Coventry Street as Northern Powergrid employees continue to work in and evacuated terraced properties. Meanwhile, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We sent five crews, plus the technical rescue and command unit. 'The explosion had affected six houses. Crews used large jets and an aerial ladder to extinguish the fire. 'Three people were taken to hospital.' A police corden continues to remain in place on Coventry Street as Northern Powergrid employees continue to work in and evacuated terraced properties. Northern Gas Networks previously said it was assisting but that the incident was 'not suspected to be related to our network'.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Man seen on CCTV calmly walking in city after killing wife as she pushed pram
Habibur Masum launched a 'ferocious' daylight knife attack on Kulsuma Akter before leaving her 'bleeding to death in the gutter' and calmly walking away from her and their seven-month-old son. A court heard Masum, 26, followed Ms Akter, 27, to a refuge in Bradford where she had been staying after he held a knife to her throat following an assault at their home in Greater Manchester. Kulsuma Akter, 27, was stabbed to death by her husband Habibur Masum, 26, in Bradford city centre (Family/PA) After tracking his wife through her phone location, Masum was seen on CCTV in the days leading up to the fatal attack 'loitering, watching and waiting' in streets around the hostel, jurors heard. He sent Ms Akter messages threatening to kill her family members if she did not return to him, before trying to lure her out by sending fake messages from a local GP practice pretending their son had an appointment. Bradford Crown Court heard Ms Akter eventually felt safe enough to leave the refuge on April 6 last year after Masum updated his Facebook page falsely claiming to be in Spain. Habibur Masum, 26, walking away after he attacked his wife (West Yorkshire Police/PA) He confronted her as she was walking in the city centre and was seen on CCTV trying to steer her and the pram away before pulling a knife from his jacket and launching the 'brutal attack' when he realised she was not coming with him, prosecutor Stephen Wood KC told jurors. CCTV footage of the attack, played during the trial, captured Ms Akter's screams as Masum stabbed her at least 25 times, put her on the ground and kicked her 'as a final insult' before lifting her head and cutting her throat. Footage released by police after Masum's conviction shows him calmly walking away from the murder scene and through Bradford city centre. The attack took place in broad daylight (Dave Higgens/PA) Jurors heard Masum travelled almost 200 miles south to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and was arrested in the early hours of April 9 in a car park near Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had gone to be treated for 'lockjaw'. During the trial, Masum refused to watch footage of the attack but jurors heard that during his first police interview he requested to see it, with Mr Wood saying he wanted to see what officers 'had on him'. When he gave evidence through a Bengali interpreter, Masum said he did not remember killing his wife and had taken a knife with him intending to stab himself in front of her if she did not 'listen to him'. He broke down in tears as he claimed to have 'lost control' when Ms Akter told him there would be no shortage of people willing to replace him as a father to their son. But Mr Wood said his tears 'were as fake as his claims of self harm' and that 'the only person Habibur Masum feels sorry for is himself'. The prosecutor said the relationship between Masum and Ms Akter was 'an abusive relationship characterised by his jealousy, possessiveness and controlling behaviour'. Habibur Masum has been found guilty of murder (West Yorkshire Police/PA) Jurors heard the couple met and married in Bangladesh, and came to the UK in 2022 after he obtained a student visa and enrolled on a Masters course to study marketing. On November 23 2023 he became jealous over a 'completely innocuous' message she received from a male colleague and was accused of assault by grabbing her face, slapping her and pulling her hair. He was cleared of that charge. The court heard he told her he was going to murder her, and held a knife to her throat the next day. Masum was arrested and charged over the incident, with Ms Akter deciding to leave him and being moved to the Bradford refuge by Oldham social services in January 2024. The court heard that while she was at the refuge, Masum sent her a photo of the front of the building with a message saying: 'I know that you are living in this place. I knew from the first day you moved here. 'If I had any wish to kill you, I could have from the first day. You do not know what you have lost but one day you will understand. Nobody will love you like I do.' Habibur Masum, 26, (centre) on a bus prior to him attacking his wife (West Yorkshire Police/PA) The court heard Ms Akter's social worker arranged for her to be rehoused and she was due to move on April 8, but in the meantime she heard from Masum's brother that he was in Spain, and 'felt safe to leave the refuge' on the day she was killed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said no officers will face action after Ms Akter contacted West Yorkshire Police a week before she was killed saying Masum had sent her death threats. The watchdog said officers were sent to the area but no suspect was found, and an intelligence report was then shared with Greater Manchester Police three days later. Masum had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder. On Friday he was found guilty of the more serious charge, as well as one charge of assault, one count of making threats to kill and one charge of stalking. He pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in public. Masum did not visibly react as the verdicts were read out. He was told by the judge Mr Justice Cotter, that he will be sentenced on July 22, when the minimum term for his life sentence will be determined.
