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| Marriage fear teenager 'murdered' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A coroner in the inquest of 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed has ruled she was unlawfully killed. | A coroner in the inquest of 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed has ruled she was unlawfully killed. |
| The decomposed body of the Muslim teenager, from Warrington, was found on a Cumbrian riverbank in 2004 after she went missing in September 2003. | The decomposed body of the Muslim teenager, from Warrington, was found on a Cumbrian riverbank in 2004 after she went missing in September 2003. |
| At an inquest in Kendal, south Cumbrian coroner Ian Smith said he believed she was murdered. | At an inquest in Kendal, south Cumbrian coroner Ian Smith said he believed she was murdered. |
| He said she was genuinely afraid, rightly or wrongly, that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage. | He said she was genuinely afraid, rightly or wrongly, that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage. |
| Delivering the verdict, Mr Smith said he was convinced Shafilea was murdered because of the way in which the body was disposed. | |
| He said: "... it had been hidden and she had been taken many miles away from home." | |
| Ifitikhar Ahmed denied having anything to do with Shafilea's death | |
| 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 whom she had claimed were forcing her into an arranged marriage. | |
| She also confided to her friends that her parents beat her and stole £2,000 from her bank account. | She also confided to her friends that her parents beat her and stole £2,000 from her bank account. |
| The inquest heard how the teenager had run away from home on a few occasions and that one time 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 she is believed to have drunk bleach after meeting a possible suitor. | |
| 'Active case' | |
| But it was a teacher at Great Sankey High School, which she attended, who reported her missing. | But it was a teacher at Great Sankey High School, which she attended, who reported her missing. |
| Her body was found in February 2004, but police had to use dental records and jewellery to help identify her. | Her body was found in February 2004, but police had to use dental records and jewellery to help identify her. |
| 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. |
| Cheshire Police launched a murder investigation after the teenager's body was found and have always maintained it was still as "active case". | Cheshire Police launched a murder investigation after the teenager's body was found and have always maintained it was still as "active case". |
| Shafilea's parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and five relatives from Bradford were also arrested. All of them were later released after being on bail for 18 months. | Shafilea's parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and five relatives from Bradford were also arrested. All of them were later released after being on bail for 18 months. |