Parents accused of murdering daughter are granted bail

Father Iftikhar, 51, and mother Farzana, 48, were charged with murder two weeks ago, after “a family member” accused them of murdering the teenager, a bail hearing at Manchester Crown Court heard.

The couple, of Liverpool Road, Warrington, Cheshire, were yesterday granted bail with a number of conditions by Mr Justice Richard Henriques.

He said: “On December 4, 2006, the Crown Prosecution Service decided that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of charging either applicant.

On August 31, 2010, a statement was made by a family member alleging that both applicants had murdered Shafilea.

“Two days later on September 2 both applicants were arrested on suspicion of murder. The allegation contained in the statement was put to them. Mrs Ahmed made a written statement denying the allegation.

“Both applicants were granted police bail and remained on police bail until September 7, 2011, when both applicants answered their bail and were charged with murder and remanded in custody as the law requires.”

Mr Justice Henriques said he would now grant the couple bail as they had been on police bail before and not absconded or sought to interfere with witnesses.

Mr and Mrs Ahmed, who were not in court for the hearing, have always denied any involvement in the death of their daughter.

Bail was granted to the couple on the following conditions: that they reside at the Liverpool Road house in Warrington; that they observe a curfew from 12am until 7am; that they report to Warrington Central Police station every day between noon and 1pm; that both defendants surrender all their passports and make no applications for travel; that sureties in the total sum of £14,500 are put down on them both, along with a £100,000 security from the value of their Warrington house.

Shafilea’s decomposed remains were discovered in Cumbria in February 2004 after she disappeared from the family home in September 2003.

South Cumbria coroner Ian Smith later recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, saying he believed the teenager was probably murdered.

A preliminary hearing has been listed at Chester Crown Court on September 27.