Accused said she ‘put her daughter to sleep forever’

A MOTHER told a jury that murder accused Sadia Ahmed came downstairs holding her daughter in her arms and said: “I’ve put her to sleep forever.”

Sadia Ahmed, 24, was giving evidence at the trial of another Sadia Ahmed, from Glasgow, who denies murdering her 14-month-old daughter, Inaya, at the family home at Bernisadale Drive, Glasgow, on April 17, last year.

Mrs Ahmed, who is the accused Ahmed’s sister-in-law, told prosecutor Paul Kearney that morning Ahmed and her daughter were in Noor Ahmed’s bedroom on the ground floor. She told the court that Ahmed took her daughter and went upstairs and was up there for around 30 to 45 minutes.

Mr Kearney asked: “Do you think she went straight upstairs or could she have gone to prepare food first?”

The mother-of-three, who gave her evidence in Urdu, said: “I think she went straight upstairs.”

She was then asked what Ahmed’s mood was that morning and replied: “It was just normal.”

The witness was asked what was the next thing she remembered happening after Ahmed went upstairs and responded: “She brought Inaya downstairs to the lobby. We heard her voice.

“She was holding Inaya against her shoulder and said ‘I’ve put her to sleep forever’.”

When asked what language Ahmed was using, she replied: “She was speaking Urdu.”

The jury was told that Noor Ahmed – Ahmed’s mother-in-law – came out and took Inaya from her and asked: “What has happened to her?”

Mr Kearney said: “Did the accused respond?”

The witness replied: “She just said again ‘I’ve put her to sleep forever’.”

She was asked what was Ahmed’s demeanour, and the witness replied: “I don’t remember.”

Mrs Ahmed was asked why she never told the police about Ahmed allegedly saying ‘I’ve put her to sleep forever” and replied: ‘I didn’t know what was happening. I was confused. I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t know what not to say.

“Everyone was saying she choked on bread.”

Police and paramedics were called to the house around 11am on April 17, last year.

Inaya was taken to the Royal Hospital for Children, but died on April 20.

Defence QC Ian Duguid asked Mrs Ahmed: “Why did you lie to the police on three occasions and not tell them what you now claim the accused said?”

She replied: “I was upset and confused.”

She was then asked why she did not say to the police that Inaya had choked on bread and replied: “I did say that.”

The court was told by Mr Duguid that there was no mention of this in any of the three police statements she gave.

The trial before judge Lord Matthews continues.