Life sentence for man who murdered wife in St Paul’s

The killer of a “determined, kind and warm-hearted woman” has been jailed for life for her murder.

Adan Dahir denied stabbing his estranged wife, mother-of-two Asiyah Harris, but was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, following a two-week trial.

The 38-year-old was sentenced to life in prison on Monday and will serve a minimum of 16 years, minus 188 days already spent in custody.

The court heard how Asiyah, 27, had tried to escape through the living room window at their family home in Ludlow Close in St Paul’s during the early hours of Tuesday, August 22 2017.

Neighbours heard her screaming and pleading with Dahir, who stabbed her a total of three times. He dealt the final fatal blow by plunging a large kitchen knife into her neck, severing an artery.

Sentencing Asiyah, Judge Peter Blair QC said: “I have come to the inevitable conclusion, based on the repeated use of the knife around her neck, that you intended to kill Asiyah.

“We do not know what the trigger was which led to you flying into a rage. We do not know because you lied to the jury during your trial by pretending her death was accidently caused when you were trying to disarm her.

“The jury saw through your story and judged it on the basis of clear evidence.”

Asiyah Harris spoke four languages fluently and worked as an interpretor

Judge Blair spoke of the trauma that Asiyah’s murder has had on her closest family.

“We have heard some lovely things about Asiyah and about her many talents,” he said.

“She was a determined, kind and warm-hearted woman and a keen sportswoman. She was creative in writing poetry and songs and she spoke four languages fluently, and had knowledge of two others, working as an interpreter for a living.

“She bore you two children, she mothered and cared for them generously before you killed her.

“Because of your murderous anger towards Asiyah, those children have suffered the terrible loss of their mother which has deeply traumatised them and now the loss of their father.

“The loss of Asiyah has led to the ill health of her closest relatives. They feel totally betrayed by you as they trusted you to look after her and care for her.”

Judge Blair said he did not accept Dahir’s tale that Asiyah brought the knife into the living room, adding that evidence to the contrary was clear. He added that Asiyah was obviously unhappy about her life at the time and was not happy with her husband.

Following the hearing, Asiyah’s brother Shyuab Harris released a statement, saying: “As a family we are very happy with the verdict of guilty and the length of sentence imposed.

“Asiyah will be missed by all of those who knew her and we are devastated by the loss of our daughter, sister and mother. Her legacy will live on through her family and children.

“We would like to thank the police, the court, the jury and the witnesses.”

Asiyah was found lying in a large pool of blood on the living room floor of 8 Ludlow Close in the early hours of August 22 2017 by police officers who had been called to the property. She died at the scene despite efforts by officers and paramedics to save her life.

Speaking after the trial, senior investigating officer DCI Gary Haskins said: “I welcome the lengthy custodial sentence given to Adan Dahir and hope the conclusion of this tragic case will help Asiyah’s loved ones find some form of closure.

“I’d like to reiterate our thanks to Asiyah’s family for their ongoing support, to all the witnesses who gave evidence in this case, and to the officers and paramedics who were first on the scene of this incident and tried so bravely to save Asiyah’s life.”

Read more: Death of Asiyah Harris was complete accident, says accused