Man convicted of bludgeoning wife with shock absorber before setting fire to their home

Javed Qureshi, aged 30, had denied attempted murder and the lesser charge of grievous bodily harm. He has also denied a charge of arson with recklessness to endanger life.

During a five day trial at Stafford Crown Court this week, the jury had heard that Qureshi and his wife had been married a number of years but their relationship was “effectively over”.

In the morning of October 31 last year, at the flat they shared in Ellesmere Road, the court was told that Qureshi had subjected his wife to “extreme violence” that saw him strike her around the head with the shock absorber as she lay in bed.

He then admitted setting fire to the bedroom of their Ellesmere Road flat in a bid to “commit suicide” but denied he was attempting to kill his wife or endanger other lives.

The court heard how Qureshi's alleged victim managed to flee the blaze last year, that saw both her and her husband rushed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Witnesses had told the court how a “bloodied” Mrs Sadiq had been seen in the street and was “hysterical”.

Prosecution counsel Mark Connor had told the jury on Friday that Qureshi had been “crushed” by the prospect of losing his wife.

He said: “He was crushed by the breakdown of his marriage. He knew deep down he had lost her.”

He said that just after 8am, while after drinking a cup of tea, Qureshi attacked his wife as she lay in bed, using “that heavy piece of metal” to rein at least three blows to her head.

“During this brutal attack, not only was he saying 'I'm going to kill you' but also that it was a serious weapon he was using,” said Mr Connor. “This was an attempt to kill. It was extreme violence delivered by a man who had lost control of his future.

“It was not just one blow, it was multiple blows – at least three blows to her head whilst he expressed an intention to kill her.”

He said that the fire Qureshi admitted starting in the flat, which he started by pouring oil over himself and a duvet, had not been designed as a suicide attempt but had been “calculated and deliberate to garner sympathy.”

In defending Qureshi, Mr Rob Edwards told the jury that the defendant “does not recall or accept he injured his wife at all.”

He said that there was “simply no evidence that he was responsible for his wife's injuries.”

However, after deliberating for just an hour and 12 minutes, a jury of eight women and four men convicted the health care worker of attempted murder and arson with recklessness to endanger life.

Recorder of Stafford, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC said Qureshi would be sentenced on

She told him to expect a “substantial custodial sentence” when he returns to court on June 5.

He was remanded in custody.