Man saw girlfriend attacked on video call - court

Suma Begum's body was found in a suitcase 10 days after she was reported missing

A man broke down in tears while giving evidence in court as he described watching his married online girlfriend being attacked by her husband on a video call.

Suma Begum, 24, was allegedly strangled by Aminan Rahman, 46, in east London last April, before being stuffed into a suitcase and thrown into a river.

A jury at the Old Bailey heard the events of that night were witnessed by Shahin Miah, 24, who was in an online relationship with Ms Begum.

Mr Rahman denies murder and assaulting Ms Begum by beating in a separate incident in February last year, but has pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of her body.

The suitcase containing Ms Begum’s body was found by a member of the public about 10 days after she died, the court heard.

Mr Miah sobbed and rested his head on his folded arms after telling jurors of a video call from Mr Rahman in which the older man was threatening to kill Ms Begum, who was on the bed in their flat in Tower Hamlets.

Mr Rahman also threatened to kill Mr Miah, who was living in the United Arab Emirates at the time, the court heard.

“She wanted to run away and he then grabbed her throat,” said Mr Miah, assisted by an interpreter.

Mr Miah said he heard “three screaming sounds” but could see nothing more after Mr Rahman’s initial lunge as the video was paused.

He told the court that in a second video call from Mr Rahman that night he was told: “Look I have killed her and now you get ready.”

“I saw that frothing was coming out of Suma’s mouth and he showed me on the video and he was swearing at me,” Mr Miah added.

Mr Miah recorded both video calls, the trial heard.

'Intimate and sexual'

Mr Miah and Ms Begum met via social media app TikTok and began an online relationship in 2021.

About seven or eight months into their “intimate, sexual” relationship, Mr Miah found out she was married to Mr Rahman, he told jurors.

Mr Miah said he told Mr Rahman of his and Ms Begum’s relationship, but the lovers stayed together and Ms Begum remained married.

The trial continues.