Mohammed Tauseed Mumtaz, who helped his family murder his pregnant wife, has been released from jail. The Parole Board directed his release following an oral hearing.
Mumtaz and three relatives, all from Handsworth Wood, believed his wife's unborn child was possessed by evil spirits, known as "Jinns", and may have been attempting to perform an exorcism when she died.
Naila Mumtaz, 21, who was six months pregnant and had relocated to the UK in 2008 following an arranged marriage in Pakistan, was beaten and smothered in July 2009. She was discovered by paramedics called to the family home on Craythorne Avenue, but she passed away in hospital.
Conviction and sentencing
Mumtaz, then aged 25, was convicted following a 12-week trial and sentenced to a minimum of 13 years after a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court in September 2012, reports Birmingham Live.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Keith, told Mumtaz at the time: "You lost the woman who gave you the hope of a normal life, but the jury found you went along with what was done to Naila, and for that you must pay the price." He added: "She was only 21 years old and had her life ahead of her. She was her parents' only daughter and her death has left a terrible gap in their lives."
Mumtaz's brother-in-law Hammad Hussan was likewise found guilty of murder and received an identical sentence. His parents, Zia Ul-Haq and Salma Aslam, were also convicted and imprisoned for a minimum of 15 years.
Parole Board decision
It has now emerged, following an independent parole board hearing, that Mumtaz, now 38, was released from custody last year. The parole board stated it "carefully examined a huge range of evidence" in reaching its conclusion.
This encompassed details of the original offence, any indication of behavioural change, and an assessment of the harm caused and the impact the crime has had on those affected.
In a statement released to BirminghamLive, the Parole Board said: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Mohammed Mumtaz following an oral hearing. Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community."
A Prison Service spokesperson told BirminghamLive: "This was an atrocious crime and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Naila Mumtaz. Decisions to release life-sentenced prisoners are made by the independent Parole Board after a thorough risk assessment. They are subject to probation supervision for life and can be recalled to prison if they breach strict licence conditions."
