Father of lovechild denies murder

Student Laura Wilson, 17, was killed by 18-year-old Ashtiaq Asghar having allegedly been lured to the canal alone by his friend Ishaq Hussain, a jury has been told.

Laura had a brief fling with near neighbour Hussain, 22, and gave birth to their daughter last June but he refused to accept it was his child, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Laura was killed last October just three days after she revealed to the families of Hussain and Asghar that she had secret affairs with both men.

Nicholas Campbell QC, prosecuting, said the pair mounted a “mission to kill” and even adopted the language of cult British film Four Lions about Islamic terrorists in the UK.

Asghar admitted murder in May this year and will be sentenced after the trial of Hussain, who denies the charge.

Mr Campbell told the jury Hussain was “jointly responsible” for killing Miss Wilson.

The court heard Hussain failed to support his baby with Miss Wilson and Asghar was equally keen his family did not know about his affair with a white girl.

Fed up of all the secrecy, Miss Wilson went to tell the families of both Hussain and Asghar of her affairs with their sons.

Afterwards Hussain and Asghar sent a flurry of texts to one another.

They talked about buying a 9.6mm “shooter” for £400 and Asghar boasted about bringing his “hit list” out.

In fact, said Mr Campbell, the murder weapon of choice turned out to be a knife with Asghar texting Hussain “I need to do a mission.”

Mr Campbell said Hussain and Asghar were angry that Miss Wilson had brought trouble to the door of their families.

He said: “She was a loose cannon and they had decided to get rid of her.”

The teenager went missing from her home in Holmes, Rotherham, in October last year and her body was found in the Sheffield Canal near the town.

The prosecution say it is likely Asghar killed her when he had a “golden opportunity” when she was alone as Hussain lured her friend away.

Before the affair with Hussain, Miss Wilson had fallen in love with Asghar and they resumed the affair after Laura had the baby.

Mr Campbell described Miss Wilson as “embracing life with gusto and she was an attractive and popular girl.”

After Hussain refused to acknowledge and support her baby Miss Wilson became more angry as he tried to keep the lovechild a secret.

She eventually took matters into her own hands and went to see the Asghar and Hussain families to tell all.

The court heard she told Asghar’s mother she loved her son and “wanted to have babies” by him but the mother became angry, called her a “dirty white bitch” and hit her with a shoe.

She then saw Hussain’s family and told them she had given birth to his baby but they were dismissive.

“Her actions that night brought the truth to both of their front doors and they had some explaining to do to their families,” said Mr Campbell.

The trial continues.