Batley murder plot trial: Ex-wife tells of domestic abuse

Neelam Amjid took five bullets to her body on March 31 last year, but she survived as each one missed vital organs.

Amjid Ali, 42, of Aysgarth Road in Healey, is standing trial along with co-defendant Adnan Khalid, 25, of Fairview Avenue in Carlinghow, accused of conspiracy to commit murder.

Prosecuting, Robert Smith QC said the two arranged for Miss Amjid to be shot while she was living in Pakistan with a new partner.

At Leeds Crown Court today, the victim described how her arranged marriage to her cousin, Ali, when she was 17, descended into violent abuse.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, Miss Amjid became emotional as she told the court how he would pull her hair, throw her on the floor, and hit her on the head, and said he held a knife to her throat in October 2010.

Miss Amjid said Ali moved out of the family home in October 2010 after she told him she didn’t love him any more and suggested they took a break from each other, but Ali would not agree to a divorce.

The 32-year-old then met Waqas Saeed, who lived in Pakistan, on Facebook and developed a close friendship with him.

He told he loved her and that he would support her if she left her marriage.

Ali agreed to a divorce under Islamic law as long as his wife agreed to sign over their home to him and leave their four children with him.

Miss Amjid agreed and left to join Mr Saeed in Pakistan in January 2011, with a plane ticket her ex-husband gave her, saying he was ‘supportive’ of her moving to be with him.

Ali and Khalid deny conspiracy to commit murder.

The trial, which is expected to last for three weeks, continues.