Mohammed Tauseed Mumtaz, a man convicted for his role in the murder of his pregnant wife, has been released from prison following a parole board decision. Mumtaz, along with three relatives, believed the unborn child was possessed by evil spirits.
Background of the Crime
Naila Mumtaz, 21, was six months pregnant and had moved to the UK in 2008 after an arranged marriage in Pakistan. She was beaten and suffocated in July 2009 at the family home on Craythorne Avenue in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham. Paramedics were called but she died in hospital.
Mumtaz, then 25, was found guilty after a 12-week trial and received a minimum 13-year sentence at Birmingham Crown Court in September 2012. The family believed the unborn child was inhabited by malevolent spirits, referred to as "Jinns," and were thought to have been attempting an exorcism at the time of her death.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Presiding judge Mr Justice Keith addressed Mumtaz directly, stating: "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 also convicted of murder and received an identical sentence. His parents, Zia Ul-Haq and Salma Aslam, were found guilty and imprisoned for a minimum of 15 years.
Parole Board Decision
It has now emerged that Mumtaz, now aged 38, was freed from custody last year following an independent parole board hearing. The board said it "carefully examined a huge range of evidence" in reaching its conclusion, including details of the original offence, any indication of behavioural change, and an assessment of the harm inflicted and the effect on victims.
In a statement to BirminghamLive, the Parole Board confirmed: "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."
