Man guilty of murdering wife and dumping body in Leeds woodland before setting it alight
A Leeds Crown Court jury has convicted 27-year-old Akshar Ali and his friend Yasmin Ahmed of murdering 26-year-old Sinead Wooding at a house in Leeds before disposing of her body in woods near a lane in Alwoodley.
The jury unanimously found Ali, of Scott Hall Road, Leeds, and his friend Yasmin Ahmed, 27, guilty of murdering 26-year-old mother-of-four Miss Wooding at Ms Ahmed’s home Reginald Mount, Potternewton, Leeds.
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Hide AdThe jury unanimously found Vicky Briggs, 25, of Throstle Road, Middleton, guilty of assisting an offender by helping clean up and burn material after the murder.
The jury has not yet reached verdicts on two other defendants.
Mr Ali’s mother Aktahr Bi, 45, of Kings Road, Hyde Park, denies assisting an offender by making arrangements to dispose of Miss Wooding’s corpse.
His brother Asim Ali, 21, of Kings Road, Hyde Park, also denies assisting an offender by procuring a vehicle and assisting in the disposal and burning of her body.
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Hide AdMr Justice Langstaff asked the jury to continue to try and reach majority verdicts on the two remaining defendants, but said he would now accept verdicts on which at least ten of the jury agreed.
The jury has been considering verdicts since last Wednesday.
The murder trial jury was told Miss Wooding's body was kept in a cellar for two days before being transported to woodland near a lane in Alwoodley, north Leeds, where it was set on fire.
A pathologist’s examination showed Miss Wooding had been attacked with a hammer and stabbed six times.
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Hide AdThe body had been wrapped in a duvet and trussed up with wire before being doused with petrol.
The smouldering remains were discovered on Stairfoot Lane at about 9am on Sunday, May 14, by students out for a run in the area.
PICS: Guzelian