Samia Shahid 'honour killing': British woman was raped before being strangled to death, police say

Ms Shahid was visiting relatives when she died

Samia Shahid died while visiting relatives in Pakistan

Samia Shahid, the British woman who died in a suspected ‘honour killing’ in Pakistan, was raped before she was killed, investigators have said.

The 28-year-old beautician, from Bradford, was allegedly strangled while visiting family in the village of Pandori in the northern Punjab region in July.

Local police also told the BBC that they believe that Ms Shahid’s father and former husband were responsible for her murder.

The pair appeared in court in August but the case was adjourned until 5 September. Both men have been remanded in custody.

Ms Shahid’s former husband, Chaudhry Muhammad Shakeel, is accused of murder. Her father, Chaudhry Muhammad Shahid, is being held as an accessory.

The mother and sister of Ms Shahid are also being asked to travel to Pakistan to face questions from police investigators.

Mukhtar Syed Kazam, the second husband of Ms Shahid, alerted the authorities after the wife of his family said she had died of natural causes in Pakistan. Ms Shahid had divorced Mr Shakeel against her family’s wishes, marrying Mr Kazam in 2014.

The authorities initially said Ms Shahid's death was caused by cardiac arrest. But a second examination, brought about after photos emerged of bruising on her neck, concluded that strangulation was to blame.

Over 1,000 so-called honour killings were recorded in Pakistan in 2015, though the true number is likely to be higher.