Undercliffe murder accused names ‘torturers’ who he says killed man (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Undercliffe murder accused names ‘torturers’ who he says killed man

8:20am Tuesday 10th July 2012 in News By Jenny Loweth, T&A Reporter

A takeaway worker accused of murdering a pizza chef with a meat cleaver has named in Court four men he says abducted him at gunpoint and tortured him to make him lure the victim to his death.

Mohammed Naeem told the jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he was pushed into a car, beaten and burned with cigarettes to force him to phone Amjad Hussain to get him out of his house.

Naeem, 33, of Westfield Terrace, Undercliffe, Bradford, denies murdering Mr Hussain in the living room of his house in Rylstone Gardens, Undercliffe, Bradford, on January 12.

He showed the jurors scars on his back he alleged were caused by cigarette burns when he was seized on Bolton Road, Bradford, by Shazad Mahmood, Amin Abubakar and Mr Hussain’s brothers-in-law, Mohammed Nazem and Mohammed Umar.

Giving evidence with the assistance of an interpreter, Naeem said he was threatened with a gun by Mr Abubakar and feared for the safety of his three young sons.

He said the four men each shook his hand before Mr Mahmood pushed him into a silver car and he was driven to an alleyway at Flames takeaway nearby.

A gun was put to his head and a cigarette stubbed out three times on his back.

He said he was taken inside Flames and further assaulted. The men threatened to kill his family if he told anyone.

Naeem told the jury he was instructed to walk to Harrogate Street where he was again put into the car.

At 11.24am, he was instructed to ring Mr Hussain and ask him to come outside. He alleged Mr Mahmood and Mr Nazem pushed Mr Hussain back into his house.

They were in there for up to 15 minutes before coming out with blood on their hands. Naeem said Mr Mahmood put on his jeans and coat before going into the house.

It is the Crown’s case that Naeem brutally murdered Mr Hussain, 32, the father of a nine-year-old son, with a large meat cleaver.

Prosecutor Julian Goose QC alleges that Mr Hussain wanted back £1,000 he had loaned to Naeem and planned to tell Naeem’s wife and father-in-law about the debt.

Mr Hussain, who worked at the Four Seasons takeaway in Burley-in-Wharfedale and was married to a primary school teacher, was found in his smoke-filled living room by firefighters.

He had been struck repeated blows, severing his neck.

The trial continues.