A man who strangled his wife with his headscarf 21 years ago after being ’embarrassed’ by her divorce bids has been jailed.
Zafar Iqbal, 62, murdered Naziat Khan in front of their three young daughters at her home in Norbury, south-west London, in August 2001.
Iqbal then abandoned the children to an acquaintance and fled to Pakistan.
At the Old Bailey, he was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years after admitting to murdering the 38-year-old.
The time he has served in detention, five years and 15 days, will be deducted from his prison sentence.
The court heard Ms Khan, born in England, married Iqbal in Pakistan in 1985 in an arranged marriage.
During the sentencing hearing, Anthony Orchard KC told the court about repeated incidents of domestic violence, including one which left Ms Khan with two black eyes.
In January 2000, Iqbal wrapped a scarf around her head and mouth, tied her legs and threatened her, saying, “I’m going to kill you”, the court heard.
He also took some of her jewellery, and the attack was reported to the police but later withdrawn.
The court heard in June of the same year that Ms Khan had started Islamic divorce proceedings after an incident left her with a fat lip.
The following January, the couple agreed to reconcile, but by June, the relationship had broken down.
Mr Orchard KC said Islamic Council records showed on 20 August 2001, Iqbal called the office and asked for another four months to reply.
“He requested he be contacted by telephone, rather than the letter in future, as someone else had read one of his letters and it was ’embarrassing to him’,” he said.
“Shortly after 13:00 that same day, Naziat was killed,” Mr Orchard added.
Iqbal carried out the killing “for no better reason” than he could not face the cultural shame that would follow from his wife’s demand for a divorce, the Old Bailey heard.
He had also believed his wife was demanding a divorce while in a relationship with another man