This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7176787.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Missing girl's father 'surprised' Girl was 'strangled or smothered'
(40 minutes later)
The father of a teenage girl whose decomposed body was found in a Cumbrian river told an inquest he was "surprised" when she went missing. A Warrington schoolgirl whose decomposed body was found next to a Cumbrian river was either smothered or strangled, an inquest has heard.
Shafilea Ahmed, aged 17, disappeared from her Warrington home four months after a trip to Pakistan. Pathologist Dr Alison Armour told the inquest in Kendal it was "not credible" that Shafilea Ahmed, 17, of Liverpool Road, died of natural causes.
Police launched a murder inquiry after her teachers reported her missing in 2003. Her parents were soon arrested.
The teenager disappeared from her home four months after a trip to Pakistan.
While away, she was said to have drunk bleach after being introduced to a suitor for an arranged marriage.While away, she was said to have drunk bleach after being introduced to a suitor for an arranged marriage.
Her father Iftikhar Ahmed told the hearing "problems arose" when she started her sixth form education. She was a very normal child, very bright Iftikhar Ahmed, father
Police launched a murder inquiry after Shafilea's body was found by near the River Kent at Sedgwick, near Kendal, in February 2004. As the hearing at Kendal Town Hall opened her father Iftikhar Ahmed said he was "surprised" when she went missing.
He revealed "problems arose" when she started her sixth form education.
Police launched a murder inquiry after Shafilea's body was found near the River Kent at Sedgwick, near Kendal, in February 2004.
She was last seen in September 2003 at the Warrington home she shared with her parents, three sisters and younger brother.She was last seen in September 2003 at the Warrington home she shared with her parents, three sisters and younger brother.
Mr Ahmed told south Cumbria coroner Ian Smith: "She was a very normal child, very bright."Mr Ahmed told south Cumbria coroner Ian Smith: "She was a very normal child, very bright."
Relatives arrested
He said his daughter did not explain why she was leaving home, and it was a surprise when she went missing.He said his daughter did not explain why she was leaving home, and it was a surprise when she went missing.
Shafilea had ambitions to become a solicitor and he had encouraged her and was proud of her achievements, the hearing was told.Shafilea had ambitions to become a solicitor and he had encouraged her and was proud of her achievements, the hearing was told.
No-one has been charged with her murder and her parents, who offered a £5,000 reward to catch her killer, have always maintained they had nothing to do with her death. No-one has been charged with the teenager's murder and her parents, who offered a £5,000 reward to catch her killer, have always maintained they had nothing to do with her death.
Mr Ahmed and his wife, Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of her kidnap in December 2003 and later released on police bail.Mr Ahmed and his wife, Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of her kidnap in December 2003 and later released on police bail.
Five other relatives from the Bradford area, where Shafilea was born, were also arrested and released on police bail.Five other relatives from the Bradford area, where Shafilea was born, were also arrested and released on police bail.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.