Cousins deny 'honour' strangling of Banaz Mahmod

Ms Mahmod's body was found in a suitcase

Two cousins murdered a member of their family because they did not approve of her boyfriend, a jury has heard.

Banaz Mahmod, 20, from Mitcham, south London, was strangled in January 2006 and her body buried in a suitcase in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Her father Mahmod Mahmod, uncle Ari Mahmod and a third man were jailed for the murder in 2007.

Mohammed Saleh Ali and Omar Hussain are on trial at the Old Bailey. Both men, 28, of no fixed address, deny murder.

They also deny burying Ms Mahmod's body, conspiring to kidnap her boyfriend Rahmat Suleimani and threatening to kill him.

The pair were allegedly among the killers but fled for Iraq.

They have since been extradited and charged with murder.

Victor Temple QC, prosecuting, said the victim had complained to police that she and her boyfriend were in danger in the run-up to her death.

She was also recorded on a phone saying her father tried to make her drink brandy and bring a suitcase with her for a car journey.

Mr Temple told the court she realised what was in store for her and fled.

But by 24 January she had disappeared and was later found dead.

Boyfriend Mr Suleimani narrowly escaped an abduction attempt after friends came to his aid, the court heard.

The case continues.