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Marriage fear teenager 'murdered' Marriage fear teenager 'murdered'
(30 minutes later)
A coroner in the inquest of 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed said he believed she was the victim of a "vile murder". 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 the Muslim teenager, from Warrington, was found on a Cumbrian riverbank in 2004 after she went missing in September 2003. The decomposed body of teenager Shafilea Ahmed was found on a riverbank in February 2004, six months after she went missing from her Warrington home.
At an inquest in Kendal, south Cumbrian coroner Ian Smith ruled Shafilea had been unlawfully killed. South Cumbria coroner Ian Smith ruled Shafilea had been unlawfully killed.
He said she was genuinely afraid, rightly or wrongly, that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage. She was genuinely afraid, rightly or wrongly, that her parents were planning to arrange her marriage, he said.
Delivering the verdict, Mr Smith said he was convinced Shafilea was murdered because of the way in which the body was disposed. Delivering the verdict at the inquest in Kendal, Mr Smith said he was convinced Shafilea was murdered because of the way in which the body had been disposed of.
He said: "... it 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".
Mr Smith believed the concept of an arranged marriage was "central" to the circumstances leading up to her death. Mr Smith said believed the concept of an arranged marriage for the Muslim teenager was "central" to the circumstances leading up to her death.
Hidden angst of Shafliea Hidden angst of Shafliea
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 beat her and stole £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 run away from home on a few occasions 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 she is believed to have drunk 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 Great Sankey High School, which she attended, 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 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 revealed. "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 help identify her. Her body was found in February 2004, but police had to use dental records and jewellery to 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". 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
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. Cheshire Police, who are due to release a statement, launched a murder investigation and have always maintained the case was still active.
Shafilea's parents, Iftikhar and Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and five relatives from Bradford were also arrested.
All were later released after being on bail for 18 months.
Mr Smith added: "I sincerely hope in the future inquiries will be carried out by the police and they will one day discover who did it because this young woman has not had justice.
"Her ambition was to live her own life in her own way, to study, to follow a career in the law and to do what she wanted to do.
"These are just basic fundamental rights and they were denied to her."