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Last Updated: Wednesday, 7 March 2007, 18:31 GMT
Wife of accused 'killed children'
Rahan Arshad, pic courtesy of GMP
Rahan Arshad denies four counts of murder
A husband accused of killing his wife and three children, told a court that it was his wife who had murdered their two sons and daughter.

Rahan Arshad denies murdering Uzma, 32, 11-year-old Adam, Abbas, eight and two-year-old Henna at their Cheadle Hulme home in Greater Manchester.

He admits losing control and killing her in a moment of mental aberration, Ian Glenn QC, defending, said.

Mr Arshad, 36, said he found the children dead when he returned home.

He told Manchester Crown Court that when he asked his wife what had happened she replied: "Are you satisfied?"

The four bodies were discovered at the couple's home in Turves Road, on 20 August last year.

She was screaming and shouting so I went for a drive
Rahan Arshad

They had lain undiscovered for almost a month and were badly decomposed.

Mr Arshad denies four counts of murder.

He said the family had been due to take a holiday to Dubai but he had to cancel the trip because he could not afford it.

He told the court he arrived home after a day out with the children and told his wife about the holiday.

Mr Arshad said: "She kicked off. She was screaming and shouting so I left the house and went out for a drive."

He claimed he returned around an hour later and saw the children's bodies.

He said: "I couldn't believe it. I went straight upstairs. I went straight into the bedroom to confront Uzma.

Mr Arshad then said his wife asked in Urdu, "are you satisfied?".

Uzma Rahan, Abbas Arshad, Adam Arshad and Henna Arshad
The family's bodies lay undiscovered for almost a month

All four victims were killed with a rounders bat bought by Mr Arshad only days before the murders.

When asked if he remembered seeing the bat, Mr Arshad said: "I found myself in the bath with the bat."

He later took a pre-booked flight to Thailand, where he remained until 30 August.

He was arrested at the Thai-Malaysia border and flown back to the UK.

Shortly after being arrested he told police: "I confess to the murder. My beautiful kids. I don't regret killing that bitch, but my kids, killing my kids..."

Asked about the comments, Mr Arshad replied he had meant that he had killed Uzma but he denied killing his children.

The trial continues.




SEE ALSO
Murder accused 'found love texts'
28 Feb 07 |  Manchester
Father 'clubbed family to death'
27 Feb 07 |  Manchester

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