'Cold and calculated' killer: How Ameen Thabet had tried to woo back his former wife

Judge Melbourne Inman QC sentenced Ameen Thabet, 50, to life for the murder of Najeeba Al-Ariqy at her home in the Aston area of Birmingham in March last year.

He must serve a minimum of 18 years before he is eligible for parole.

In sentencing him, Judge Inman said: "You had been good friends with Najeeba and her family for many years and eventually you and she developed a romantic relationship which led you to marrying each other in December 2018. The wedding was in accordance with your faith which permits the husband to have more than one wife. You were already married.

"The marriage lasted only three months because you did not fulfil your requirement of informing your existing wife of your intention to marry again. The requirement of the marriage to be open and public was very important to Najeeba and when you failed to inform your wife she asked for a divorce.

"Thereafter you and Najeeba remained in frequent contact as the jury saw from the selection of messages put before them. It is clear that you remained very much in love with Najeeba and you courted her with a view to remarrying her.

"It was very clear from the evidence that Najeeba was, and remained, in two minds whether she would agree to remarry you.

"On March 23 you went to Najeeba’s home where she was alone. The only conclusion from the evidence is that Najeeba made it clear that she would not marry you again because, again, you were not willing to divorce your wife.

"You then strangled Najeeba either by an arm lock or a broad ligature."

Coverage of the case:

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The judge added: "She had no idea of what you intended but it is clear that you began to strangle her before she could try and escape or defend herself. How long it took you to kill her only you know but the pathologist’s evidence is that there were prominent asphyxial signs consistent with a prolonged pressure.

"However long it took it this was a determined killing and you strangled her until you were sure she was dead.

"You then set about creating a false trail. You went upstairs and, in each bedroom, created a scene as if the house had been burgled.

"Immediately before you left you then used Najeeba’s phone to send texts to your own phone to create the appearance that she was still alive when you left the property.

"Your actions were cold and calculated."

He added: "This morning, following your conviction, you have finally admitted through your counsel that you did indeed murder Najeeba.

"It is regrettable that you could not have done that before the trial but it does reflect your belated wish to help the family achieve some degree of closure as they come to terms with their loss."