Violent husband jailed for murder

Malik Mannan repeatedly breached his bail conditions

A cheating husband who had repeatedly attacked his wife has been jailed for life for murdering her.

Malik Mannan, 36, must serve at least 17 years for stabbing Sabina Akhtar, 26, through the heart at their home in Longsight, Manchester.

Mannan also attacked his mistress, with whom he had two children.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has apologised for not charging him for breaching orders to stay away from Mrs Akhtar.

Mrs Akhtar's uncle said his niece would still be alive if her husband had been charged after being arrested for a second time.

In her final days she was not only terrified of you but specifically terrified that she would die at your hands, as indeed she did

Mr Justice Maddison

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said it will apologise to Mrs Akhtar's family, because it was wrong not to charge Mannan earlier.

The couple had an arranged marriage in Bangladesh in 2003.

When a pregnant Mrs Akhtar joined her husband in England, she found out about his mistress.

The court was told Mannan was violent towards both women.

Prosecutor Paul Reid QC said Mrs Akhtar contacted police two months before her death and told them her husband had assaulted her 25 times.

He would squeeze her windpipe when they were arguing and made at least three threats to kill her.

'I will slaughter you'

In July last year he told her to prepare for her final hour by reading passages from the Koran and said: "I am going to get a knife and when I return I am going to slaughter you."

Sabina Akhtar was stabbed through the heart by her husband

After Mannan's final attack on 11 September he made arrangements to flee to Bangladesh, but was arrested the next day.

Mr Justice Maddison told Mannan that his wife lived in fear of him.

He said: "In her final days she was not only terrified of you but specifically terrified that she would die at your hands, as indeed she did."

The judge said Mrs Akhtar's discovery of her husband's double life had contributed to a volatile and unpredictable relationship.

Senior Investigating Officer Dave Hickey of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Mannan's attack on his wife was "an example of domestic abuse at its most horrific".

'Simply negligence'

Mrs Akhtar's uncle, Reaz Talukder, speaking outside court, said: "Sabina was loved very dearly by all of her family members and friends.

"She was a brave woman and was devoted to her only son who is now under foster carers.

"Sabina's parents blamed the Crown Prosecution Service for their wrong decision not to charge Malik Mannan at an earlier stage.

"This was simply negligence."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said that in light of the CPS apology, it would not pursue an investigation into Greater Manchester Police's handling of the matter.