'Clean-up mounted after men killed' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

'Clean-up mounted after men killed'

9:30am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Local By Jenny Loweth

An intensive clean-up operation was mounted to hide the evidence after two men were violently murdered in the front living room of a Bradford house, a jury was told.

The walls and ceiling of Mohammed Zubair’s home in Heath Terrace, Barkerend, had been cleaned but small projected bloodstains were still visible and blood had seeped into the carpet.

Forensic scientist Michelle Walton told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that DNA from blood staining in the room matched murder victims Ahmedin Khyel and Imran Khan.

The men’s bodies were found dumped in New Lane, near Tong village, on May 11 last year. Both had suffered severe head injuries.

Zubair, a Bradford minicab driver, fled the UK for Pakistan after the killings and is “prime suspect”, prosecutor Tahir Khan QC has told the jury.

Mr Khan said Zubair had found out his wife, Kainat Bibi, was having an affair with London father-of-seven, Mr Khyel.

He alleges Zubair attacked Mr Khyel, 35, and his friend, Mr Khan, 27, of Gloucester Avenue, Bradford, with a hammer at the house in Heath Terrace on May 10.

Zubair is said to have transported the bodies to New Lane in his Volkswagen Transporter cab.

On trial accused of assisting with the murders is Sabir Hussain, 40, of Wensleydale Road, Thornbury, Bradford.

Hussain, who worked with Zubair at Tyersal Private Hire, denies joining in the attack at Zubair’s home with a dumb-bell bar.

Mohammed Iqbal Mazar, 29, of Athol Road, Heaton, Bradford, pleads not guilty to perverting the course of justice by assisting in the removal of bloodstains and bloodstained items from the house.

Zubair’s mother, Arab Sultana, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by booking and paying for her son’s plane ticket to Islamabad.

Bibi has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, by lying to the police about where her husband was after the murders.

Miss Walton told the jury the dead men’s bodies were “almost intertwined” when they were discovered at the side of the lane, against the hedgerow.

Both had significant head injuries and they were in their stocking feet.

Miss Walton said the living room curtains had been replaced at the house in Heath Terrace and cushion covers removed.

Attempts had been made to clean blood from the walls and ceiling. They were still bloodstained and there was blood in the television set, sofa and armchairs.

Miss Walton said blood was found on the gear stick of Zubair’s cab and on the seats and floor in the back.

She told the jury the evidence pointed to the vehicle being extensively cleaned after the bodies were carried on the floor.

The trial continues