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| Marriage fear teenager 'murdered' | Marriage fear teenager 'murdered' |
| (9 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 teenager Shafilea Ahmed was found on a riverbank in February 2004, six months after she went missing from her Warrington home. | 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. |
| 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 by Cheshire Police but no charges were brought. | |
| 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 because of the way in which the body had been disposed of. | |
| He said 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". |
| Mr Smith said believed the concept of an arranged marriage for the Muslim teenager 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 | |
| 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. | |
| Cheshire Police, who are due to release a statement, launched a murder investigation and have always maintained the case was still active. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "These are just basic fundamental rights and they were denied to her." |