Husband admits stabbing wife to death at Wolverhampton home

Suhail Azam is facing a life sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of Kanwal Fatima Azam.

The killing took place at Mrs Azam's home in Ingleby Gardens, Whitmore Reans, on March 29 this year.

Police were called to the house at 3.20pm and, after forcing entry to the property, found the 35-year-old victim in the living room with multiple stab wounds. Unemployed Azam was arrested by police near his home in Newhampton Road East around an hour later.

At Stafford Crown Court yesterday, Azam, 54, spoke only to confirm his name and to answer 'guilty' when the murder charge was put to him.

Mr Patrick Currie QC, defending, asked that Azam be sentenced straight away but Judge Simon Tonking refused the request.

Remanding him in custody, Judge Tonking told him: "I understand why you would wish to be sentenced today, but it is not as simple as that.

"There are good reasons why I cannot and will not sentence you today and I adjourn the case.

"I know you will be aware already that for an offence of murder the only sentence can be life imprisonment. The minimum term you must serve must be considered."

Mr Hugh O'Brien-Quinn, prosecuting, the victim's family lived in Pakistan and had hoped to come over to see Azam's day in court.

He said: "The family of the deceased, although they live in Pakistan, sought Government funding to come to this country for this case but they have been unable to obtain that funding.

"There is a friend, who comes from the same village, who lives in London, who may be able to provide a a victim impact statement on their behalf."

Azam is expected to be sentenced next month.

On the day of the murder, Mrs Azam's house was sealed off by police as children's toys lay strewn across the driveway.

See also: Man appears in court after estranged wife stabbed to death in Wolverhampton.