Shafilea 'not forced to marry'

A father accused of murdering his daughter told a jury she was lying when she complained of violence and being forced into marriage.

Iftikhar Ahmed, 52, was giving evidence at Chester Crown Court where he is accused with his wife Farzana of killing their daughter Shafilea, 17. Asked to explain his daughter's application for emergency accommodation, he said: "This paperwork Shafilea filled in – what she's put down was not true."

Andrew Edis QC also asked whether it was true Shafilea feared she was going to be married off, to which Mr Ahmed replied: "If she did mention it [to us] we would have told her there was no such thing." The couple deny murdering their daughter. The trial continues.