Wolverhampton father-of-three jailed for stabbing wife to death

Suhail Azam, from Whitmore Reans, was yesterday sentenced to a minimum of 17 years behind bars for killing his 35-year-old wife, Kanwal Azam.

The 54-year-old husband from Newhampton Road East pleaded guilty last month Stafford Crown Court to murdering Kanwal, whose body was found in her home in Ingelby Gardens.

Police visited her home on March 29 after receiving a call from a concerned friend of Kanwal's, who had received a phone call from her, during which Suhail could be heard in the background. The friend then heard Kanwal screaming before the phone disconnected, at which point he called the police.

"We responded to the call immediately but unfortunately, when we arrived at Kanwal's home address, she had been stabbed numerous times and was already dead," said Detective Inspector Justin Spanner from the force's homicide department.

He added: "Due to the phone call made shortly before she died, Suhail became our number one suspect and we immediately went to find him. He was located in the back garden of his home address and was arrested on suspicion of murder."

Detective Inspector Justin Spanner, from the West Midlands Police homicide department, said: "We responded to the call immediately but unfortunately, when we arrived at Kanwal's home address, she had been stabbed numerous times and was already dead.

"Due to the phone call made shortly before she died, Suhail became our number one suspect and we immediately went to find him. He was located in the back garden of his home address and was arrested on suspicion of murder."

An investigation uncovered that Kanwal had recently begun divorce proceedings against Suhail, who had gone to see her on the day of her death to talk about access to their three children - all of whom are aged between three and ten.

Suhail arrived at the property and arranged for the two youngest children to go to a family member's house, while the eldest child was out playing with friends. There was then an argument between the former couple, during which Suhail stabbed Kanwal to death.

Det Insp Spanner said: "It is our belief that Suhail went to the address with the express intention to kill his estranged wife after receiving a solicitor's letter from her outlining access to the children.

"Thankfully, he had the sense to make sure that his children were not present during the attack, but they have understandably been left devastated by what has happened.

"It will be a long road to recovery for them and we hope that journey can now begin for them, safe in the knowledge that their father will be locked up for a very long time.

"We are satisfied with the sentence handed to Suhail Azam, which reflects the serious nature of the offence. Our thoughts go out to Kanwal's family in Pakistan, her friends in this country and obviously her young children, who continue to be supported by our specially trained officers."

Suhail Azam was senetenced yesterday at Stoke Crown Court.