Three jailed for life after Glasgow murder of father-of-five

A man and two women who plotted the brutal murder of a father-of-five were jailed for life on Monday and ordered to serve a total of 75 years.

Muhammed Rauf, 42, was told he will spend at least 24 years in jail.

His wife Shahida Abid, 33, and her best friend Saima Hayat, 34, who was married to murder victim Haider Hayat were each ordered to serve at least 25 years and six months in prison before being eligible for parole.

They were convicted of murdering the 49-year-old security guard at a flat in Raithburn Road, Castlemilk, Glasgow, on April 3, 2018, as eight children slept.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday judge Lady Rae told them: “You have been convicted of the brutal murder of a defenceless man who was at the start of this assault probably asleep. This was a sustained, relentless and merciless attack with lethal weapons.

"From the chilling recording the jury heard of the noise within the flat it is clear this attack lasted in excess of six minutes. The injuries were so extensive it was difficult to count them.”

Rauf smashed Haider at least 100 times on the head with a hammer and then slashed his throat 16 times with a knife.

Lady Rae said: “The neck injuries were probably inflicted when he was actually dying. From the chilling recording the jury heard.”

The plan to murder Haider was hatched by his wife Shahida Abid , who was described by Lady Rae as “manipulative and scheming” and her friend Saima Hayat and carried out by Rauf.

Haider was dead by 3am, but his killers did not call the police until 5am.

They found the two women tied up with tape. The woman claimed three intruders and Haider had tied up the women and and injected them and eight children with chemicals. It was claimed that Rauf had saved them all by killing Haider.

The women and children were taken to hospital in a fleet of eight ambulance, but doctors discovered there was nothing wrong with any of them.

Their plan began to unravel when police discovered that a neighbour had recorded the sounds of the brutal killing after being wakened at 3am by thumping.

Detectives also discovered every room in the flat had CCTV cameras installed.

When they examined footage taken in the living room shortly before the murder which showed Abid making a cut-throat gesture and Hayat a stabbing motion to both eyes and her stomach.

The CCTV system was switched off minutes before the murder.

Haider suffered multiple fractures to his skull, as well as a broken jaw and cheekbone and his neck was slashed

In evidence Rauf said Haider made offensive remarks about his wife and mother and he snapped.

He said: “I was very angry. I don't know what happened how many times I struck him. When I came back to my senses I was on top of him, my hand was on his mouth and there was blood everywhere."

Neither Abid or Hayat gave evidence and they continue to insist they are innocent.

During the trial it was alleged that Hayat had to flee from the family home in Warrington, England, because Haider beat her, but Lady Rae yesterday told her: “I am satisfied that you were the abusive partner and not your husband.”

All three accused showed no emotion as they were led away to the cells.