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| Marriage fear teenager 'murdered' | Marriage fear teenager 'murdered' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A teenage girl who feared a marriage was being arranged by her parents was the victim of a "vile murder", a coroner has said. | A teenage girl who feared a marriage was being arranged by her parents was the victim of a "vile murder", a coroner has said. |
| The decomposed body of Shafilea Ahmed, 17, was found on a riverbank in February 2004, six months after she went missing from her Warrington home. | The decomposed body of Shafilea Ahmed, 17, was found on a riverbank in February 2004, six months after she went missing from her Warrington home. |
| South Cumbria coroner Ian Smith ruled Shafilea had been unlawfully killed. | South Cumbria coroner Ian Smith ruled Shafilea had been unlawfully killed. |
| Shafilea's parents and five family members were arrested during the police inquiry but no charges were brought. | Shafilea's parents and five family members were arrested during the police inquiry but no charges were brought. |
| After the inquest, Supt Geraint Jones, of Cheshire Police, said it "remains a live murder inquiry". | After the inquest, Supt Geraint Jones, of Cheshire Police, said it "remains a live murder inquiry". |
| There is someone out there who knows what happened to Shafilea Supt Geraint JonesCheshire Police class="" href="/1/hi/england/merseyside/7183363.stm">Hunt for killer continues | |
| "It will not be closed until the killer or killers have been brought to justice," he said. | "It will not be closed until the killer or killers have been brought to justice," he said. |
| Mr Smith said Shafilea was genuinely afraid, rightly or wrongly, that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage. | Mr Smith said Shafilea was genuinely afraid, rightly or wrongly, that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage. |
| Delivering the verdict at the inquest in Kendal, he said he was convinced Shafilea was murdered. | Delivering the verdict at the inquest in Kendal, he said he was convinced Shafilea was murdered. |
| The body "had been hidden and she had been taken many miles away from home", he said. | The body "had been hidden and she had been taken many miles away from home", he said. |
| Mr Smith said he believed the concept of an arranged marriage for the Muslim teenager was "central" to the circumstances leading up to her death. | Mr Smith said he believed the concept of an arranged marriage for the Muslim teenager was "central" to the circumstances leading up to her death. |
| Hidden angst of Shafilea | Hidden angst of Shafilea |
| Earlier in the week-long hearing, community and homelessness workers said the teenager had approached them for help to find accommodation or a place in a refuge in order to escape from her parents. | Earlier in the week-long hearing, community and homelessness workers said the teenager had approached them for help to find accommodation or a place in a refuge in order to escape from her parents. |
| She had claimed they were forcing her into an arranged marriage, the inquest heard. | She had claimed they were forcing her into an arranged marriage, the inquest heard. |
| She also confided to her friends that her parents had beaten her and taken £2,000 from her bank account. | She also confided to her friends that her parents had beaten her and taken £2,000 from her bank account. |
| The inquest heard how the teenager had previously run away from home and that on one occasion her father had turned up at her school and taken her home, forcing a teacher to call the police. | The inquest heard how the teenager had previously run away from home and that on one occasion her father had turned up at her school and taken her home, forcing a teacher to call the police. |
| Shafilea went missing on 11 September 2003 shortly after returning from a trip to Pakistan, where it was said she had drunk a quantity of bleach after meeting a possible suitor. | Shafilea went missing on 11 September 2003 shortly after returning from a trip to Pakistan, where it was said she had drunk a quantity of bleach after meeting a possible suitor. |
| 'Active case' | 'Active case' |
| But it was a teacher at her school, Great Sankey High School, who reported her missing seven days later. | But it was a teacher at her school, Great Sankey High School, who reported her missing seven days later. |
| Summing up, the coroner said Shafilea had died within a few hours of leaving work on the day she was last seen alive. | Summing up, the coroner said Shafilea had died within a few hours of leaving work on the day she was last seen alive. |
| He added he was "very confident" she was already dead before her body was dumped on the riverbank. | He added he was "very confident" she was already dead before her body was dumped on the riverbank. |
| "I do not believe she escaped and ran away. She was taken," Mr Smith said. | "I do not believe she escaped and ran away. She was taken," Mr Smith said. |
| Her body was found in February 2004, but police had to use dental records and jewellery to identify her. | Her body was found in February 2004, but police had to use dental records and jewellery to identify her. |
| I sincerely hope in the future inquiries will be carried out by the police and they will one day discover who did it Ian Smith, coroner | I sincerely hope in the future inquiries will be carried out by the police and they will one day discover who did it Ian Smith, coroner |
| A medical expert told the inquest the schoolgirl had either been smothered or strangled. | A medical expert told the inquest the schoolgirl had either been smothered or strangled. |
| Police said the continuing investigation could take detectives to Pakistan for further enquires. | Police said the continuing investigation could take detectives to Pakistan for further enquires. |
| Supt Jones said: "There is someone out there who knows what happened to Shafilea, and has not told us. " | Supt Jones said: "There is someone out there who knows what happened to Shafilea, and has not told us. " |
| Shafilea's parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and five relatives from Bradford were also arrested. | Shafilea's parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and five relatives from Bradford were also arrested. |
| In his summing up at the inquest, Mr Smith said: "I sincerely hope in the future inquiries will be carried out by the police and they will one day discover who did it." | In his summing up at the inquest, Mr Smith said: "I sincerely hope in the future inquiries will be carried out by the police and they will one day discover who did it." |
| The parents left the inquest without making a comment. | The parents left the inquest without making a comment. |