Detective tells court that Bradford killings accused changed his story (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Detective tells court that Bradford killings accused changed his story

7:30am Friday 10th February 2012 in Bradford By Tanya O'Rourke

A man accused of two murders made a “significant” change to his story after he was arrested, a jury was told yesterday.

Sabir Hussain, 40, of Wensleydale Road, Thornbury, Bradford, is accused of helping to kill Ahmedin Khyel and Imran Khan in May last year.

The jury has heard he denies joining in the fatal attack, alleged to have taken place at Heath Terrace, Barkerend, with a dumb-bell bar. It was said at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he had altered his version of events surrounding the use of the item from comments he made before his arrest.

Hussain worked at Tyersal Private Hire with Mohammed Zubair, who has been described as the “prime suspect” in the murders.

Zubair is thought to have flown to Pakistan shortly after the men’s bodies were found dumped in New Lane, near Tong, in May last year. Mr Khyel had been having an affair with Zubair’s wife, Kainat Bibi.

Detective Constable Andrew Elener said Hussain, who had been initially treated as a witness, had asked for a meeting with officers, in which he “got up from his seat and made a gesture of him striking one of the men”.

He said: “In my mind he was unburdening himself, he was reliving the moments that occurred within the house on Heath Terrace. He gestured as if reconstructing what happened. From the way he demonstrated he appeared to be doing it with some force.”

Hussain was arrested and in a later interview, the court heard, suggested he had “prodded”, not struck, the victim. Det Con Elener told the jury: “He had changed his account. One area that he had changed, which we felt was significant, was the manner in which he indicated he had struck one of the people at Heath Terrace.”

Also during the meeting, Det Con Elener said, “he spoke about concerns he had about Zubair in Pakistan, the influence he had over there, issues he felt his own family might have over there, in relation to where he believed Zubair might be in Pakistan”.

When asked by Hussain’s barrister Toby Cross QC, Det Con Elener said he did not believe Hussain’s admissions had been made as a result of pressure.

Also on trial is Mohammed Iqbal Mazar, 29, of Athol Road, Heaton, who pleads not guilty to perverting the course of justice by assisting in the removal of bloodstains from the house.

Zubair’s mother Arab Sultana, 64, of Roydstone Terrace, Bradford Moor, has admitted perverting the course of justice by booking her son’s plane ticket.

Kainat Bibi, 27, of Heath Terrace, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by lying to the police about Zubair’s whereabouts.

The trial continues.