19/03/2014

British Woman Gets Life In Pakistan Jail

British woman, Khadija Shah, from Birmingham, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Pakistan after being convicted of trying to smuggle 63 kg of heroin out of the country.

The 26-year-old who was heavily pregnant when she was arrested at Islamabad airport in May 2012 and gave birth in jail, denied the charges against her.

A court in Rawalpindi was told Shah was arrested after 63kg of heroin in different suitcases with a street value of around £3.2m.

She claimed she was carrying the cases for someone else and was unaware of contents, however on Tuesday she was convicted by the Special Narcotics Court.

Her lawyer said they would appeal against the decision in the High Court next week.

Maya Foa, director of Reprieve's Death Penalty team said:"As happens in hundreds of cases, she was used as a drugs mule without her knowledge and yet is facing life in a Pakistani prison."

(CVS/CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

27 October 2011
Automatic Life Sentence For 'Serious' Re-offenders
The justice minister has revealed plans to introduce mandatory life sentences for those who commit serious crimes more than once. The "two strikes" rule will see anyone convicted of a second serious sexual or violent crime in England and Wales being handed an automatic life sentence.
02 October 2013
Inmate Given Second Life Term For Mark Bridger Attack
An inmate who attacked Mark Bridger in prison has been given a second life sentence. 24-year-old convicted murderer and rapist Juvinal Ferreira attacked Bridger, jailed for the murder of five-year-old April Jones, with a knife, made from a razor, at Wakefield prison in July.
10 October 2012
Criminals Launch Appeal Over Life Sentences
Appeals are to be launched by five of the UK's most dangerous criminals over their life sentences for murder and rape. Their cases will be heard by five judges at the Court of Appeal in London, which includes the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Justice Leveson.
04 September 2007
Body Of Convicted Killer Found
The body of a convicted killer who escaped from an open prison has been found in his car in Derbyshire. Martyn Hughes, 50, from Norfolk, was serving three life sentences for the murder of his two stepchildren and the manslaughter of his wife. He failed to return to Sudbury Open Prison on Sunday after being granted temporary leave.
25 October 2010
Animal Activists Jailed Over Hate Plot
Five animal rights activists have been jailed for intimidating staff linked to a Cambridgeshire animal testing laboratory. Winchester Crown Court heard how Sarah Whitehead, Nicole Vosper, Thomas Harris, Jason Mullan, and Nicola Tapping targeted staff from the supply firms of Huntingdon Life Sciences.