Shafilea Ahmed murder case: Thursday
The sister of Shafelia Ahmed is due to continue her testimony against their parents in the next hour.
Latest ITV News reports
Shafiea Ahmed trial: latest from Chester Crown Court
Shafilea Ahmed's sister's told a court her death had haunted her and she talked to police because she felt she was being forced down the same path with an arranged marriage.
Alesha Ahmed says she got three men to stage a robbery at the family home in Warrington in 2010 when her parents wouldn't give her money for University. She said she
– Alesha Ahmed"snapped. It was just hard living the way they wanted me to, or living on my own. Both were a struggle"
She was arrested after the robbery and has pleaded guilty. Soon after she gave a statement to police saying her mother and father murdered Shafilea by suffocating her in 2003.
Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed deny murder. When questioned about why she has made the claim after all these years she siad:
"I think at that point I was really suffering with the family (and) the build-up to the robbery.
"It all got too much, and to be honest I think it was a relief more than anything to be able to tell someone finally."
"I think it was not until I went to uni I saw how wrong family life was.
"When you get used to something, it becomes normal and that's when I saw it wasn't normal, really.
"I think what happened to my sister was wrong but because it's your parents you think it's normal because you still love them.
– Alesha Ahmed"I think at uni I did feel the way my sister had - you want to fit in with everyone else but you are still being forced to live in a different way.
"I think that's what made me crack."
Shafilea Ahmed's murder trial latest:
Giving evidence Alesha Ahmed says she was presented with suitors for arranged marriage.
– Alesha Ahmed"I was going down the path of my sister...it was a lot of pressure"
Asked why she got three men to rob her family home Alesha Ahmed says
– Alesha Ahmed"I absolutely snapped it was just hard living the way they wanted me to"
Advertisement
Shafilea Ahmed update
Our Correspondent Ann O'Connor is in the Crown Court at Chester listening to evidence she has sent these updates:
Giving evidence Alesha Ahmed says relationship with parents was strained but not as extreme as their treatment of her sister Shafilea.
The court has also heard that the Ahmed family never discussed what happened to Shafilea. On why she told police her story in 2010 Alesha Ahmed says:
– Alesha Ahmed"It all got too much and it was a relief to be able to tell someone finally"
Shafilea murder case week 1: Thursday
The case against Shafilea Ahmed's parents who deny murdering her continues.
Read the full storyShafilea murder case latest
The sister of Shafelia Ahmed is due to continue her testimony against their parents in the next hour.Alesha Ahmed told Chester Crown Court yesterday that her father and mother Iftikhar and Farzana suffocated her 17 year old sister, forcing a plastic bag into her throat.
Today she's expected to explain why she decided to make her allegations 7 years after Shafelia died and days after Alesha was involved in a robbery at the family home.The Ahmeds deny murdering their daughter in September 2003.