Hina Bashir: Man admits killing woman found in suitcase

Hina Bashir's body was found in a suitcase in Upminster, east London

A man has admitted killing a 21-year-old woman whose body was found dumped inside a suitcase.

Business management student Hina Bashir was found dead in undergrowth in Upminster, east London, after she went missing in July last year.

Muhammad Arslan is accused of murder and perverting the course of justice. He has denied both charges.

The 27-year-old, of Ilford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after jurors were sworn in for his trial.

'Obsessed'

Ms Bashir was studying at Coventry University's London campus at the time of her death, having travelled to the UK from Pakistan.

On the first day of his trial, the Old Bailey heard Mr Arslan had become "obsessed" with Ms Bashir.

The pair grew up in the same village and the defendant followed Ms Bashir to the UK months after she came to study in November 2021, the court was told.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC said Mr Arslan had suffocated Ms Bashir with a facemask after she visited his home to collect some belongings she had left there while moving accommodation on the evening of 1 July 2022.

"The next morning, the defendant set off from his house, dragging behind him a suitcase containing Hina Bashir's dead body," he said.

Mr Arlsan took a taxi to an industrial estate by the M25 near Upminster and abandoned the suitcase in some undergrowth, the court heard.

• Man denies murdering 21-year-old student

Jurors heard Ms Bashir's blood had been found on Mr Arslan's bed and bedclothes, while facemasks matching the one that she suffocated on were recovered from his house.

Investigators also discovered the defendant had been looking at messages and photographs on Ms Bashir's phone in the hours after her final visit, the Old Bailey was told.

Following Mr Arslan's arrest, police found evidence on his phone that he had become close to the Ms Bashir in Pakistan and "had been repeatedly in contact with her, declaring his love", the prosecution said.

The defendant had allegedly spoken about wanting her to be his wife and having a family with her, the court was told.

Mr Patterson said Ms Bashir did not want to be in a relationship with Mr Arslan and she had begun a relationship with another man after she moved to the UK.

The trial continues.

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