Smethwick murder suspect carried out CPR on wife, court hears
A murder suspect carried out on CPR on his wife after finding her lying unresponsive at home in what he labelled a "crime scene", a trial heard.
Ameen Thabet, aged 50, from Smethwick, told an emergency call operator he feared that Najeeba Al-Ariqy, 46, was dead, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
In a police interview, he told detectives Ms Al-Ariqy had a scarf wrapped around her neck and there was splatters of blood by her head and neck.
Thabet is accused of murdering Ms Al-Ariqy at her home in Sutton Road, Aston, Birmingham, on March 23 last year, by choking her to death.
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Prosecutors claim Thabet also staged a fake burglary to cover up his actions.
Thabet said he arrived at the property just after 6pm on March 23 to find her lying on her back.
The interview was read out to jurors, in which Thabet said: "I opened it [the front door] slowly and she was lying down on her back and her hands were open. Her face was blue and her tongue was out.
"It was just a shock to me. I called 999 straight away. I was panicked and stuttering on the phone. I tried to keep my composure. I said 'I think it is a crime scene'. The woman [call operator] said 'Is she breathing?' I put my hand over her chest but it was not moving. She was out cold.
"There was blood splatter by her body. There was some by her head. She had a scarf wrapped around her head. I moved that to clear her passage.
"They [the call operator] put me through to the ambulance service. They said to me 'try to do CPR'. I said 'I'm a bit reluctant to do anything. I think she is dead'. I did everything she asked me to do. I pushed in her chest hard, and kept pushing."
He told police the couple's relationship was "amazing" and loving. The couple got married in 2019.
Thabet, of West Park Road, in Smethwick, denies murder.
The trial at Birmingham Crown Court continues.
