Accused said he found victim in bed with his wife, garda tells murder trial

A 31-year-old man on trial charged with murdering his wife’s cousin told gardaí that he had hurt him because he saw the victim in bed with his wife.

Shahzad Hussain of Woodland Avenue, Mosney, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 32-year-old Muhammad Arif on January 7, 2011.

He has also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to his wife, Rashida Bibi Haider (aged 41), and to intentionally or recklessly causing her serious harm.

He is alleged to have carried out those offences on January 6, 2011 at Mr Arif’s apartment in Fitzwilliam Court, Dyer Street, Drogheda, Co Louth.

The Central Criminal Court trial has already heard that all three were from Pakistan and that the couple had been living with Ms Haider’s cousin, Mr Arif, in Fitzwilliam Court.

However their arranged manage encountered problems, with the accused suspecting that his wife and Mr Arif were having an affair. Both husband and wife moved out separately in December 2010.

Ms Haider testified that she returned to her cousin’s apartment on January 5, 2011 to collect some things. She said she felt unwell and stayed the night.

She said her husband arrived the following afternoon, became angry and stabbed her and her cousin.

Detective Garda Seamus Nolan gave evidence today of charging the accused with Mr Arif’s murder on January 8 last year. He told the jury what Mr Hussain replied to the charge.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to kill him,” he said through an interpreter.

“Because of the situation I saw, my wife in bed with another man. It was very shameful,” he continued.

He said that the reason he got ‘so mad’ was because Mr Arif had said: “This is not Pakistan. It is Ireland. You can do what you want here.”

“I’m so sorry,” concluded Mr Hussain.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of nine men and three women.