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Rania Alayed murder: Husband killed 'westernised' wife Rania Alayed murder: Husband guilty of 'honour killing'
(35 minutes later)
A man has been found guilty of murdering his "westernised" wife. A man has been found guilty of the "pre-planned honour killing" of his wife, whose body has never been found.
Mother-of-three Rania Alayed, 25, from Manchester, went missing last June. Her body has not been found. Mother-of-three Rania Alayed, 25, from Manchester, went missing last June.
Ahmed Al-Khatib, 35, of Gorton, told Manchester Crown Court that he killed her in self-defence after an evil spirit entered her, but he denied murder.Ahmed Al-Khatib, 35, of Gorton, told Manchester Crown Court that he killed her in self-defence after an evil spirit entered her, but he denied murder.
The prosecution said Ms Alayed had been killed for becoming "too westernised" and "establishing an independent life".The prosecution said Ms Alayed had been killed for becoming "too westernised" and "establishing an independent life".
Greater Manchester Police's Det Ch Insp Phil Reade said her death had been an "honour killing" and added that "the irony is that this horrific act of self-pity brought nothing but shame on him and his family".
Al-Khatib's brother Muhaned, 38, denied murder but, along with Al-Khatib, admitted perverting the course of justice by transporting and concealing the body of Ms Alayed.Al-Khatib's brother Muhaned, 38, denied murder but, along with Al-Khatib, admitted perverting the course of justice by transporting and concealing the body of Ms Alayed.
He told police Ms Alayed had been buried at the side of a layby on the A19 in North Yorkshire.He told police Ms Alayed had been buried at the side of a layby on the A19 in North Yorkshire.
He was found not guilty of her murder.He was found not guilty of her murder.
A third brother, Hussain Al-Khatib, 34, of Knutsford Road, Gorton, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.A third brother, Hussain Al-Khatib, 34, of Knutsford Road, Gorton, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The jury took four days to reach the verdicts. All three will be sentenced later. Elaborate deception
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Al-Khatib admitted he had been unhappy when his wife started college and began wearing make-up. Jurors took four days to reach their verdicts. The three brothers will be sentenced later.
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, Ahmed Al-Khatib admitted he had been unhappy when his wife started college and began wearing make-up.
The jury heard Al-Khatib murdered Ms Alayed, who previously lived in Norton, Teesside, at his brother's flat in Salford.The jury heard Al-Khatib murdered Ms Alayed, who previously lived in Norton, Teesside, at his brother's flat in Salford.
Al-Khatib claimed he saw his wife as an evil spirit and that as he pushed her away she hit her head against a mirror, knocking her unconscious and killing her.Al-Khatib claimed he saw his wife as an evil spirit and that as he pushed her away she hit her head against a mirror, knocking her unconscious and killing her.
The court heard he then began an elaborate deception to convince her family and friends that she was still alive. The court heard he then began an elaborate deception to convince her family and friends she was still alive.
CCTV showed Al-Khatib wearing a headscarf in an attempt to pass himself off as Ms Alayed.CCTV showed Al-Khatib wearing a headscarf in an attempt to pass himself off as Ms Alayed.
He, along with his brothers, then messaged and texted her friends and family, trying to convince them she was still alive.He, along with his brothers, then messaged and texted her friends and family, trying to convince them she was still alive.
'Sickening and chilling'
Mr Reade said Ms Alayed was "beginning to put an abusive and violent relationship behind her and had genuine cause to be optimistic for the future".
"But her husband snatched it all away in the cruellest and most despicable way possible."
He said Ms Alayed's murder was "both sickening and chilling in the extreme" and that Al-Khatib's claim that a spirit was about to attack him was "both insulting to Rania's memory and counter to all the evidence of a pre-planned honour killing".
"Make no mistake, this was an honour killing - Al-Khatib's murderous actions were motivated by his outrage and jealousy that Rania would attempt to take control of her own life and live a more westernised life."
He added that the force would "employ the most hi-tech methods" to continue the search for Ms Alayed's body so "she can be given the dignified burial she deserves".