Trio face life in jail for brutal murder in a Castlemilk flat

A man brutally killed a father-of five by smashing him 100 times on the head with a hammer and cutting his throat 16 times with a knife. Muhammed Rauf, 42, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering 49-year-old security guard Haider Hayat at a flat in Raithburn Road, Castlemilk, Glasgow, on April 3, 2018.

The jury heard a sickening recording of the brutal killing which lasted for at least five minutes.

The plan to kill was hatched by him, his wife Shahida Abid, 33, and her best friend Saima Hayat, 34, who was married to Haider.

Abid and Hayat were also convicted of murder and of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The jury saw CCTV footage from inside the flat shortly before the murder which showed Abid making a cut-throat gesture and Hayat making a stabbing motion to both eyes and then to her stomach.

Prosecutor Richard Goddard QC said: “This clearly showed what they were planning.”

He added: "Rauf and his wife Abid are both failed asylum seekers.”

Judge Lady Rae told the accused- all first offenders: “It is difficult to find the words. This was clearly a premeditated and planned killing of an innocent man. You attempted to blacken his character.

“This was a brutal and merciless attack and you are all guilty because you were involved in the planning of it. I certainly have detected no remorse from any of you.”

All three are facing life sentences and the case was deferred until next month for background reports.

Lady Rae will determine then how long they should spend behind bars before being eligible for parole.

The court heard that the CCTV, which covered every room in the Hayat's Castlemilk flat was switched off shortly before the murder.

Downstairs neighbour Shannara Fraser, 30, was woken by noise at 3am and recorded Haider being murdered.

The jury was played the tape which lasts for five minutes. Sickening thuds can be heard and Ms Fraser added: “It sounds like air is being forced out his lungs.”

The curt heard that police were not called until two hours later at 5am when the three accused told them a made up story.

They claimed three intruders and Haider had tied the women and the eight children in the house and injected them with chemicals. They further alleged that Rauf came and saved tall of them by killing Haider.

The two women and the children were taken to hospital in a fleet of eight ambulance and tests carried out at hospital found there was nothing wrong with any of them.

Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner said that the cause of death was blunt force injury.

Dr Turner added: “There was in the region of at least 100 blows delivered to his head and neck.”

Haider suffered multiple fractures to his skull, as well as a broken jaw and cheekbone.

Mr Goddard asked Dr Turner: “What degree of force would be needed to inflict these injuries,” and she replied: “There has been considerable force.”

In evidence Rauf claimed that he attacked Haider because he made remarks about his wife and mother.

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.

“If I hadn't done anything he could have killed me and my children. I had no intention of killing anyone. It was just accidental.”

Neither Abid or Hayat gave evidence.

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

During the trial Hayat claimed that she had to flee from the family home in Warrington, England, for a new life in Glasgow because Haider beat her.

But, Haider's brother Mohammed Asif, 59, said that she assaulted Haider and showed the jury photographs of injuries he had sustained at his hands.

Before the brutal murder Hayat and Haider had been on a family holiday in Blackpool and returned to Castlemilk hours before he was killed.

Detective Inspector Steven Watson said: "Haider was viciously attacked and suffered a sickening and violent death at the hands of Rauf, Abid and Hayat. This is something he did not deserve.

"This was a brutal and senseless murder and such crimes are unacceptable in our society. The actions of those now convicted were compounded by the fact that there were children present in the house at the time of this despicable act.

"I welcome the verdict today which may go some way to giving comfort to Haider's family and my thoughts have remained with them throughout this incredibly difficult time.

"I am grateful for the commitment of the Police Scotland team who worked on this harrowing inquiry and would like to publicly thank the community who came forward with the vital information which helped bring those convicted today to justice.''

• castlemilk