‘Not enough evidence’ to charge suspects in 2007 Bradford ‘Valentine’s Day’ murder

Sajid Saddique, of Heaton, Bradford, disappeared on Valentine’s Day 2007 after telling his family he was going to a business meeting.

West Yorkshire Police announced last year that the case had become a murder inquiry after new information emerged and two Bradford men were arrested and bailed on suspicion of killing him.

But it has now emerged that prosecutors have elected not to charge the two suspects and have told Mr Saddique’s widow that there is not currently enough evidence to progress the case.

Asma Razaq, 35, who has moved to Scotland with her children to escape the torment of life without her husband, met with representatives of the Crown Prosecution Service and West Yorkshire Police last week to discuss the case.

She had previously appealed after the CPS decided several months ago not to charge the two men, but was told the decision would not be changed.

Ms Razaq said: “It was the CPS that called the meeting and they wanted to explain. I couldn’t understand it before and I still don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense.

“They said they can’t charge those responsible based on circumstantial evidence but on the other hands they said there have been cases where they have charged people with circumstantial evidence, even when no body has been found.

“I think they should put it before a jury and let them make the decision.”

In a separate statement sent to The Yorkshire Post, Mr Saddique’s brothers and sisters appealed “to the local community for any information that anyone has be passed to the police for further investigation”.

They said: “West Yorkshire Police’s homicide team have worked hard to compile the evidence so far during a hard and long investigation. We hope that further information will provide the police and the CPS with the evidence required to gain successful conviction of those guilty. Sajid was a dearly loved and is missed deeply we want justice for him.

“We would like to also thank DCI Steven Snow [the former lead investigator on the case] for all the hard work he put into our brother’s case before his retirement.”

Mr Saddique was last seen in the Asda car park in Manor Road, Shipley, at about 10am on February 15, 2007. He had been wearing a distinctive, diamond-encrusted Cartier watch. A file was passed by police to prosecutors last year. During the opening of an inquest into Mr Saddique’s death, three suspects in the case were named in open court.

Martin Goldman, Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “I recognise it has been and continues to be a difficult time for Mrs Razaq since her husband’s disappearance.

“I have every sympathy for her tragic situation and my thoughts remain with her. I met Mrs Razaq to explain to her personally that having carefully considered a file submitted to us by the police we had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any person in respect of her husband’s disappearance.

“Every case has to be considered on its own facts and we cannot bring a prosecution unless there is sufficient evidence.”

Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “We continue to appeal for anyone who has any information as to Sajids’s last whereabouts, or what happened to him to come forward.

“With the passage of time, certain allegiances may have changed and people may now be in a better position to come forward and assist us.

“No matter how small, or insignificant the information may seem in isolation, it could be the missing piece of the jigsaw in helping us establish the truth about what happened to Sajid, so we can bring some closure to his family.”

“I would urge anyone who has such knowledge or was perhaps on the periphery of this incident to contact us directly or contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigations Review Team via 101, or Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.