Birmingham Couple Guilty of Attempted Murder in Animal Mask Attack

A young Birmingham couple who attacked a woman with a hammer and knife while wearing animal masks have been found guilty of attempted murder.

Wasif Hussain, 21, and his wife Nabela Tabassum, 19, ambushed Hussain’s stepmother, Arifa Nazmin, in the kitchen of their family home on Midhurst Road, Kings Norton, on January 29 last year.

The couple attacked Nazmin with a hammer and knife, with Hussain striking her and Tabassum holding her legs. The court heard that Hussain shouted, “you will die for everything you have done.”

Tabassum, who has a learning difficulties (low IQ) admitted feeling overwhelmed by the domestic tension, saying she had contemplated suicide due to constant criticism from her stepmother-in-law. Hussain, who has autism, claimed they felt unwelcome in the house.

The unemployed couple, whose families had encouraged them to marry after discovering their online relationship, blamed Hussain’s father’s new wife for making their lives unbearable. After the attack, they planned to kill both parents, burn the house to destroy evidence, and flee to Bolton for a new life.

Nazmin fought back with determination to save herself, forcing the couple to eventually relent, with Hussain shifting from the hammer attack to a tirade and rant against his father and stepmother. Despite suffering a stab wound and defensive injuries, she managed to escape and call for help.

Hussain and Tabassum fled to a Travelodge in Bolton, where they were arrested in the early hours of the next day. On March 27, Hussain was unanimously convicted of attempted murder at Birmingham Crown Court, while Tabassum was found guilty by a majority of 11 to 1. They will be sentenced on May 21.

Understanding Attempted Murder and Sentencing

In the UK, attempted murder is a serious criminal offence under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981. To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove that the accused not only intended to kill but also took significant steps toward committing the act. Unlike murder, where the victim dies, attempted murder involves a failed or incomplete act of killing.

The maximum sentence for attempted murder is life imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of the intent to take a life. In determining the sentence, courts consider factors such as premeditation, the use of weapons, and the impact on the victim. Aggravating factors, like the use of a knife or hammer as in this case, can increase the severity of the sentence.

Judges have some discretion in setting the minimum term before parole can be considered. However, even after serving the minimum term, an offender will only be released if the Parole Board deems them no longer a danger to the public. If released, they remain on licence for life and can be recalled to prison if they breach the conditions of their release.

This case highlights how the justice system handles premeditated violent attacks, emphasizing that those who plan and attempt to take a life will face significant custodial sentences.