THE family of a pregnant mother-of-two stabbed to death by her husband has called for him to spend the rest of his days behind

bars after he admitted her murder.

Tariq Khan, 27, appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to plead guilty to murdering his 24-year-old wife, Nadia Khan, and the destruction of their unborn child at their home in Holker Street, Manningham.

After the hearing, Nadia's relatives said they were relieved he had admitted the crimes but hoped he would never be freed from prison.

"I think he should rot in hell and never be allowed out of jail," said Nazma Khan, Nadia's aunt.

"I'm happy he's pleaded guilty, we knew he did it."

Mrs Khan said the killer deserved a "double life" sentence as he had taken away the life of an unborn baby as well as the mother.

"The baby was due around now," she said.

"That little angel could not be allowed to come into this world because of his father."

Mrs Khan, 41, said Nadia's two young children, particularly her son, now six, had been left traumatised by the loss of their mother.

"He asks me to write a letter to God to say 'can you give our mum back'. All the other children go to school with their mums and he asks 'where's my mum?'.

"He cries and doesn't want to go to school and he has nightmares and is awake all night. He witnessed the murder. He says he wants to go to sleep where his mum is."

Mrs Khan said Nadia's daughter, now four, had been left confused by her loss.

"She doesn't know what is going on. She does talk about her mum."

Tariq Khan, who speaks little English, was assisted by an interpreter for yesterday's short hearing in a courtroom packed with Nadia's family and friends.

Tall and bearded with cropped hair shaved at the sides and wearing a brown long-sleeved jumper, Khan stood impassively in the dock for the short hearing before the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC.

He pleaded guilty to murdering Nadia at her home on Sunday, June 14, this year.

He also admitted destroying with intent the life of a child capable of being born alive, by a wilful act, namely stabbing with a knife, causing the child to die before it had existed independently of its mother.

Khan further admitted assaulting Mrs Khan by beating her on May 16 this year.

Khan, of Clarendon Court, Manningham, was remanded back into custody until the sentencing hearing on October 16.

Khan's barrister, Ali Bajwa QC, told the court the legal team was not relying on any psychiatric evidence.

There were no mental health issues and he conceded Khan would get an automatic sentence of life imprisonment and it will be up to the judge on the day to rule the minimum term he must serve behind bars before he can even be considered for parole.

Judge Thomas told Khan: "The sentence that has to be passed in relation to the principal charge is fixed by law. That will be a sentence of life imprisonment, but other aspects of the case will have to be considered."

Nadia, who was about six month pregnant, was found dead when police and paramedics attended at her home after the attack which took place in the late afternoon.

Friends of the couple said they had separated a week earlier.

Bradford-born Mrs Khan was educated at Bradford Girls' Grammar School.

She was described by friends and family as intelligent, cheerful, bubbly and happy.

At the time of her death, her sister Anisa, 20, described her as "cheerful, bubbly and happy" woman who was looking forward to the birth of her baby.

"She was in Mothercare just a few days ago for a Moses basket and baby clothes. She was a really nice person who really loved her children."