Shafilea family 'still suspects'

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The parents of a murdered teenager have not been ruled out as suspects in her disappearance, the High Court heard.

The body of Shafilea Ahmed, 17, was found on a Cumbrian river bank in 2004, six months after she vanished from her home in Warrington, Cheshire.

Her parents want access to some police files as part of a legal challenge of the unlawful killing inquest verdict.

At an interim hearing, the High Court was told disclosure of the material could undermine the murder inquiry.

Ian Smith, coroner for East and South Cumbria, recorded a verdict in April 2008 that Shafilea was unlawfully killed.

He told the inquest he believed Shafilea, who feared an arranged marriage, had not run away but had been taken from her home and suffered a "vile murder".

Unless there be any doubt, the parents have not been eliminated as suspects in relation to the disappearance of Shafilea Ahmed John Bassett

Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed were originally arrested on suspicion of kidnapping her but were released without charge.

Her father Iftikhar was recently given permission to challenge the verdict at the High Court in London, arguing the coroner's view was "biased" and should be replaced by an open verdict.

The date for a full hearing of the application for judicial review has yet to be fixed.

But an interim hearing took place on Friday in a dispute about the family's right to see information gathered by the police.

In December, lawyers obtained an order for disclosure of information against David Whatton, the Chief Constable of Cheshire.

Michael Hartman, appearing for Mr Ahmed, said his client was seeking information about the movements of an individual believed to have been in a relationship with his daughter.

Investigation continuing

John Bassett, appearing for the Chief Constable, said a murder investigation was continuing, and there were concerns the disclosure order could undermine it.

"Unless there be any doubt, the parents have not been eliminated as suspects in relation to the disappearance of Shafilea Ahmed," he told Mr Justice Saunders.

Mr Bassett said officers were concerned the family were "seeking to obtain evidence of the methods of investigation utilised by the police in the course of this inquiry".

He told the court police were prepared to make certain disclosures "but not all the matters the family want".

The judge set aside the order made against the Chief Constable but said Mr Ahmed should inform police details of the information he wanted within seven days.