MUHAMMED HAMMAD FROM ACOKS GREEN, BIRMINGHAM, SENTENCED FOR MURDERING HIS WIFE IN BRUTAL FIRE ATTACK

In a tragic and disturbing case that shocked the community of Acocks Green in Birmingham, Muhammed Hammad was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Nazia, during a violent altercation inside their home in April 2015. The court proceedings revealed a chilling sequence of events that culminated in a deadly act of arson, leaving Nazia severely burned and ultimately leading to her death.

According to the evidence presented, Hammad, then aged 30, poured white spirit onto his wife during an argument and deliberately set her alight. The incident took place within the confines of their residence in Acocks Green, a neighborhood in Birmingham known for its close-knit community. Witnesses and neighbors reported hearing screams emanating from the house as the flames engulfed Nazia, who staggered out of the property with severe burns covering approximately 60% of her body. The neighbors' accounts described a scene of chaos and distress, with individuals rushing to assist her as she suffered from critical injuries.

Initially, Hammad and Nazia claimed that the fire was accidental, caused by a cigarette igniting the white spirit. However, fire investigators and medical experts quickly doubted this explanation, citing the severity of her burns as inconsistent with an accidental ignition. The investigation, led by Detective Inspector Justin Spanner, uncovered evidence that pointed to a deliberate act of arson. Nazia was able to communicate her account of the events after waking from a coma, and her testimony was recorded and played to the jury during the trial.

Despite her injuries, Nazia managed to inform the police about the circumstances leading to the fire before she succumbed to her injuries. She died in hospital on June 12, after battling the devastating burns. Her family described her as