Mohammed Azim, a 41-year-old recovery truck driver, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Lily Whitehouse. The killing occurred on November 5 last year, Azim's 41st birthday, when he used his Mercedes Sprinter truck as a weapon to pin Whitehouse against a lamppost in Old Park Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands.
Verdict and Sentencing
Jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court took less than six hours to find Azim guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to two on Friday. Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Mr Justice Murray stated that while the decision to kill was spontaneous, Azim was aware that Whitehouse had a five-week-old baby still in hospital. The judge noted that Whitehouse was psychologically vulnerable due to her troubled background and was strongly attached to Azim, who was much older and more experienced.
Details of the Incident
The trial heard that Whitehouse had just visited her premature baby in a neonatal intensive care unit when she was crushed by Azim's truck. CCTV from a nearby school captured audio of the truck idling for about 16 minutes before Whitehouse is seen walking quickly along the road. The truck then forcefully pushed her before a loud bang was heard, which the prosecution said was the impact with the lamppost. Azim initially lied to emergency services, claiming Whitehouse had been hit by another vehicle that fled the scene.
Victim Impact Statements
Whitehouse's cousin Katie told the court their world collapsed upon learning of her death. She said, 'Lily died in tragic and horrific circumstances. We find ourselves asking questions that can never be answered – what were her last thoughts and words when her killer crushed her with his truck? These thoughts haunt us daily.' Her aunt Melissa Wheeler added, 'You were meant to love her, but you killed her. I hope you spend the rest of your life knowing what you did to Lily.'
Defence Arguments
Imran Shafi KC, Azim's defence barrister, accepted the case involved the devastating loss of a young life but argued the offence was spontaneous and that Azim immediately sought help. He noted that the van was driven at relatively low speed and the act took place in a public place. The judge, however, rejected the notion that Azim intended only serious harm, stating that driving a heavy truck at someone carried a substantial risk of killing.
Background of the Relationship
Azim, who came to the UK from Pakistan in 2001, had been in an on-off relationship with Whitehouse since 2023, meeting her when she was 17. He was married from 2007 to 2015 and had previous convictions for possession of cannabis, evasion of duty on tobacco, and battery in 2012. The judge noted that Azim was at times aggressive and that the relationship was very much on his terms.
