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Husband found guilty of murdering wife as she pushed their baby in pram in Bradford

Habibur Masum, 26, launched the "ferocious" attack on 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter after tracing her to a refuge, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Habibur Masum 
Pic: West Yorkshire Police
Image: Habibur Masum. Pic: West Yorkshire Police
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A man who stabbed his wife to death as she pushed their seven-month-old baby in a pram has been found guilty of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, launched the "ferocious" attack on 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter after tracing her to a refuge where she went to escape his "violence, jealousy and controlling behaviour", a court heard.

She suffered more than 25 knife injuries in the attack after Masum found her through her phone location and confronted her in a street in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on 6 April last year.

Kulsuma Akter, 27, was stabbed to death in Bradford. Pic: Family handout/PA
Image: Kulsuma Akter was stabbed to death in Bradford. Pic: Family handout/PA

Masum was arrested 150 miles away in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, after a four-day manhunt.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a knife but denied murder, claiming he had intended to kill himself in front of his wife but "totally lost control".

Masum was also convicted of one count of assault, making threats to kill, and one charge of stalking. He was cleared of another charge of assault.

He had no visible reaction as the verdicts were read out at Bradford Crown Court on Friday. Judge Mr Justice Cotter told him he will be sentenced on 22 July, when the minimum term for his life sentence will be decided.

The court heard Masum had previously held a knife to his wife's throat and threatened to kill her, while Ms Akter told a social worker she "believed that one day her husband would kill her".

He was subject to court bail conditions ordering him to keep away from her at the time of the killing.

Habibur Masum seen on CCTV. Pic: West Yorkshire Police
Image: Masum seen on CCTV. Pic: West Yorkshire Police

3pm attack in front of onlookers

Prosecutor Steve Wood KC told the jury Masum tracked Ms Akter to Bradford and, days before the attack, tried to lure her into leaving the refuge by pretending to be from a GP's surgery and offering her fake appointments.

She was walking with a friend and pushing her son in a pram at 3pm when she was confronted by Masum, who she thought was in Spain.

CCTV showed Masum walking with Ms Akter until he stopped her, spun her and the pram around, and pulled a knife from his jacket.

"He tried to encourage Kulsuma back into the relationship," West Yorkshire Police's senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson said outside court after the verdict.

"When she dismissed that, he took the knife and repeatedly stabbed her in front of horrified onlookers. He left her there to die. He walked away and utilised public transport to facilitate his escape out of Bradford."

Ms Akter fell to the ground after being stabbed in the ferocious and deadly attack", described by Mr Wood as a "cold-blooded, calculated, premeditated murder".

"As a final act of sheer gratuitous violence, he kicks Kulsuma before moving away, but not before ensuring that he disposed of the knife," he said.

 Habibur Masum was arrested on suspicion of murder - more than 150 miles away from where the incident took place
Image: Masum was arrested more than 150 miles away from where the incident took place

Ms Akter suffered multiple stab injuries to her body and face, including a wound to the neck, the court heard.

Giving evidence through a Bengali interpreter, Masum told the jury he tracked down his wife "still optimistic" he could save his marriage, but if that did not work he thought "I will just kill myself in front of her".

He broke down in tears as he said, "I totally lost control", later saying that the next thing he could remember was walking along the road with bloodstains on his hand.

Speaking after the court hearing, West Yorkshire Police's DCI Atkinson said: "Kulsuma suffered a brutal attack in broad daylight whilst her baby son was in his pram.

"Masum carried out the murder then calmly walked away as if nothing had happened. He left the scene and made his way out of the city to try and escape justice.

"Kulsuma's family have been left absolutely devastated by her death, I hope today's conviction will bring them a sense of justice in knowing that the man responsible for her death has been found guilty."

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