A former airline steward who murdered a young woman and callously transported her body in a suitcase through Heathrow Airport has been told he must remain behind bars.
Appeal Court Rejects Human Rights Argument
Youssef Wahid, now 56, has lost his latest bid to be released from prison early. His appeal, which argued that his lengthy minimum term breached his human rights, was unanimously rejected by three senior judges at the Court of Appeal on Friday.
Lady Justice Andrews, Mrs Justice Thornton and Her Honour Judge Moreland upheld an earlier ruling, bluntly concluding: "The application is refused." Wahid had claimed his good behaviour in prison should see his sentence reduced and that the 24-year minimum term had "detrimentally impacted" his rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
A Brutal and Calculated Crime
The horrific crime dates back to 1999, when 28-year-old Fatima Kama was visiting London from her native Canada. Wahid stabbed the aspiring cabaret singer at her brother's flat on Edgware Road. The court heard she suffered significant physical suffering before her death, having been repeatedly stabbed and having her throat slashed.
In a chilling attempt to dispose of the evidence, Wahid, then a Kuwait Airways flight attendant, placed Fatima's remains in a suitcase. He then took the Heathrow Express train to the airport, where he was captured on CCTV wheeling the suitcase on a luggage trolley before abandoning it in a car park.
The next day, he fled the country to Beirut, beginning a 12-year evasion of justice.
The Long Arm of the Law
Despite his escape, international police cooperation eventually caught up with Wahid. He was tracked down to Bahrain and extradited back to the UK to face trial. In 2011, he was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey and handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years.
Sentencing him, Judge Paul Worsley told Wahid he was "an intelligent but devious and manipulative man" who had "callously concealed her body in a suitcase." During his trial, Wahid refused to appear in court or accept legal representation, mistakenly believing this would cause the proceedings to collapse.
Prosecutor Adrian Darbishire said Wahid could not escape "the long arm of Scotland Yard." Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane, who led the investigation, stated: "This was a callous and shocking murder which left a family grieving the loss of a beloved daughter. Wahid spent 12 years evading police and refused to face up to what he had done. I am pleased that Fatima's family have finally got justice."
The court heard poignant descriptions of Fatima Kama, a Moroccan-born Canadian, who lived her life "like Holly Golightly," the vibrant character from Breakfast at Tiffany's. She was remembered as a "vivacious and attractive young woman" with a promising future tragically cut short.
With his appeal now dismissed, Youssef Wahid will continue to serve his sentence, ensuring that justice for Fatima Kama and her family is upheld.
