‘Evil’ builder jailed for niece’s murder
AN “evil” builder has been jailed for at least 40 years for abducting, raping and cutting the throats of two young women, killing one and seriously injuring the other.
Mujahid Arshid, 33, hatched his murderous plot after becoming fixated with his 20-year-old niece, Celine Dookhran, and the surviving victim, who cannot be identified. In July last year, he attacked them at a house he was renovating in Kingston, south-west London, and stuffed Ms Dookhran’s body in a freezer.
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, Arshid was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, rape of both women and their kidnap.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Dookhran’s mother Iman Naeem said: “She fell victim to pure evil. The disgusting and senseless actions of Mujahid Arshid deprived Celine of a great future where she could go on to further her ambitions.”
The killer was also convicted of sexually assaulting the surviving victim when she was 13.
As he was convicted after 14 hours of deliberations, Ms Dookhran’s family shouted: “Yes”.
Arshid ranted in the dock, saying: “(The survivor) killed all of them. She’s lied to you.”
The woman wept in court, but appealed for others to remain calm and hold back their emotions.
Labourer Vincent Tappu, 28, of Acton, west London, who also stood trial, was acquitted of all charges against him, and Arshid was acquitted of possessing a Taser.
Mr Justice Edis said Arshid was an “extremely dangerous man” as he handed him four life sentences.
The judge dismissed his defence that the surviving woman was responsible for the killing as “absurd”.