A "CONFIDENT, clever and intelligent" woman phoned her family asking for help shortly before her partner murdered her at their Derby home, a court has heard.

Atual Mustafa is on trial at Derby Crown Court charged with the murder of his former partner, Sohbia Khan, 37, at their home in Pear Tree Crescent, Normanton. He denies the charge.

On day three of the trial, Miss Khan's eldest brother, Javed Khan, gave evidence. The trial has previously heard that Mustafa "lured" his partner to Derby from Bradford and subjected her to domestic violence "on a savage scale".

PREVIOUS STORY: Sohbia Khan 'lured' to Derby by abusive partner, murder trial told

Today the trial heard that Miss Khan phoned her family to say "please help me" shortly before her death.

Prosecutor Michael Auty QC asked Mr Khan if he would agree that his sister was "confident, clever, intelligent and bubbly". He told the jury he agreed.

When opening the case Mustafa was described by Mr Auty as "controlling".

Atual Mustafa denies the murder of his partner Sohbia Tabasim Khan.

On Monday, Mr Auty said: "The day after Sohbia left Bradford for Derby, all her Facebook, WhatsApp and Snapchat (accounts) were deactivated."

When asked whether his sister liked social media, Mr Khan told the court: "Very much so."

The jury were told about Miss Khan's earlier life, including her working life. Mr Auty said she had been working with children.

Mr Khan said he had never seen his sister wear a burka (a garment that covers the body and face) or niqab (a garment that covers the face).

He added: "She very much did know her own mind. She was the only one who could answer me back."

The trial was told she had been previously been married for around seven years. Mr Auty said the couple separated and she moved back into the family home in Bradford.

He said: "After her marriage had failed, as far as you could tell, was she optimistic about finding someone in the future?"

Mr Khan replied: "Yes. The marriage ended amicably.

"She always wanted children."

At the outset of the prosecution's case last week, the court was told Miss Khan's body was found in a bath, covered with a towel and shower curtain.

A Home Office pathologist was brought in to examine Miss Khan’s body and Mr Auty read out the results of a post-mortem report.

Mr Auty told the court it was “perfectly possible” the defendant had “beaten her unconscious and she has died having been left”.

He also previously told the jury that Miss Khan has suffered a “succession of beatings”. He said there was “not one incident, but a series of incidents”, the court heard. He said Miss Khan had also been branded with an iron.

Mr Auty said: “It has been used to quite deliberately to cause injury.”

Mustafa denies murder. The trial continues.