The husband has been given a life sentence for his heinous crime. His daughter said that he "failed" in his duty "to protect his wife and children."
Trigger Warning: The story contains details of domestic abuse and violence that might be distressing to some readers.
"Our mother was the most precious woman who dedicated her whole life to her husband and seven children," said Sawaira Sajid, the eldest daughter of Abida Karim who was brutally murdered by her husband of 21 years, Sajid Pervez. He has now been jailed for life for his heinous crime.
At his sentencing, the brave 21-year-old said, "She was a devoted wife and mother who always put her family first. She was married to our father for 21 years and she experienced domestic abuse throughout her whole marriage. We tried to help her but she would say, 'things will get better and you will always need him as he is your father.'"
Leeds. He subjected his wife to a lifetime of abuse then killed her in a hammer attack while the kids slept upstaris. She deserved a real man, not the rat she was forced to marry. https://t.co/JWOhUfrU09
— Nippy Krankie💎 (@NKrankie) February 19, 2021
Unfortunately, things didn't turn out the way Abida had hoped. According to Sawaira, her mother had been enduring abuse for a long time but she hid it from the community, family, and friends. On the midnight of September 24, 2020, things turned for the worse when 37-year-old Sajid killed his wife with a hammer and slashed her throat at their home in Leeds, while their children slept, reported The Mirror.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the couple had been married as teenagers in an arranged marriage. The 38-year-old who was a mother-of-seven had made numerous domestic violence calls previously but they never resulted in prosecution. Sajid was once cautioned by the police in 2010 for an offense of battery, but nothing else. Prosecutor Peter Moulson QC revealed that they had evidence that Sajid was "controlling and coercive" towards Abida. On the day of the incident, Sajid had reportedly taken half a gram of cocaine.
Sajid Pervez, Charged with Murder of His Wife, Mum of 7, Abida Karim in Leeds https://t.co/OxPRWdIHG2
— Mera Mirpur (@meramirpur) September 25, 2020
Just a few days after Abida returned from Pakistan following the funeral of her father, Sajid murdered her. He then called the police to inform them about the crime telling them where the murder weapon was. He asked the police to "make sure the kids don't see anything." He added, "I never thought I would harm anyone... I feel bad for the pain she went through. I should not have done what I did. The kids... now don't have a mum."
Sawaira in her statement described her father as a "horrible, abusive and manipulative" person, reported The Daily Mail. She said, "I have pictured this day since I was five years old." Describing the tragic day, she continued, "My mum did not even scream. Normally when she is beaten up I can hear her shouting, I can hear her scream. I didn't hear my mum this morning."
"On the night of September 23, we had no clue it would be the last meal our mother would cook for us, the last time we spent with her, the last time we got to see her smile, and the last time we got to feel her presence. We did not know that we would be going to sleep and waking up with police officers in our home telling us that our mother has been murdered, leaving us absolutely heartbroken and devastated. Since that day we have craved her presence and our hearts have been empty."
Sajid pleaded guilty on January 12, 2021. The doctors who assessed Sajid revealed that he has a dissocial personality disorder which got worse by cocaine and cannabis use. Nick Johnson QC added, "His life and life choices were decided and controlled for him from an early age, involving his arranged marriage from the age of 17." Sajid must serve a minimum of 22-and-a-half years in custody before he can apply for parole.
Taxi driver who murdered his wife with a hammer and knife in cocaine-fuelled frenzy while their children slept is jailed for life https://t.co/9C2mCwlQSi
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 19, 2021
Sawaira remembers her mother as a person who was "always smiling" but "got sick of life," as per The Mirror. She revealed that Abida was happy when she returned from Pakistan but became miserable within a week because of Sajid. "Losing my mum was my biggest fear," she said and that fear has now become her reality.
As she broke down while making a statement during Sajid's sentencing, she continued, "I miss being a young girl and being looked after. I miss my mum. I miss her cooking, her cleaning and talking to her, and everything else a mother does for her children that we take for granted. I miss being loved and cared for. She was taken from me - from us - and she was taken by the hands of my own father. His duty as a man is to protect his wife and children but he has failed."
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Natalie Dawson said, "Sajid Pervez has robbed his own children of their mother and, although he has now been held accountable, we recognize that no amount of time in prison could ever properly compensate them for such a dreadful loss," as per The Daily Mail.
Sawaira concluded her statement by saying, "Our mother is a hero to us, she fought for her kids and family till her last breath."
Angry Women Shouted "Woman Beater" On Arrest of Sajid Pervez Who Killed Abida Karim in Leeds https://t.co/luI2Y62wrm
— Mera Mirpur (@meramirpur) September 26, 2020
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Cover image source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) Terry Vine, (R) GizemBDR (Representational Image)
