Kashif Anwar jailed for murder of pregnant wife at Arthur's Seat

An abusive man who pushed his pregnant wife to her death off a cliff in Scotland has been jailed for life for her murder.

Kashif Anwar, 29, from Pudsey in Leeds, killed Fawziyah Javed, 31, as they walked at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh in September 2021.

Ms Javed, who was about 17 weeks pregnant, suffered fatal injuries when she fell around 50ft. She used her dying words to reveal to a witness that her husband had pushed her, the court heard.

Daniyah Rafique, 24, managed to reach the employment lawyer as she lay dying on the side of the hill, where she was told: "Don't let my husband near me, he pushed me."

Anwar was found guilty of the murder of Ms Javed after a six-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

PC Rhiannon Clutton was told by Ms Javed that her husband did it because she "told him I wanted to end (the marriage)".

The trial was told that Anwar was violent and abusive towards his wife before her death.

In March 2021, it was claimed Anwar knocked his wife unconscious in a cemetery in Pudsey. On another occasion Anwar is said to have put a pillow over his wife's face, restricting her breathing, and repeatedly punching her on her head.

Sentencing Anwar, Judge Lord Beckett said his wife had joined him on his "project" to climb Arthur's Seat despite being pregnant and having a fear of heights.

"She was entitled to expect your protection and support," the judge said.

• Judge Lord Beckett addresses Kashif Anwar

He added: "It seems that you sought out a secluded position at the top of a cliff near the summit and waited until darkness fell and it seemed that no-one else was around before you pushed your wife off the edge.

"Fawziyah Javed died far from home on a Scottish hillside and her loving family are left devastated and will never be the same again."

He imposed a mandatory life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years.

The judge was forced to call order to the court when shouting broke out as Anwar was taken from the dock.

Det Insp Bob Williamson, of Police Scotland, said: "This has been an incredibly difficult and traumatic time for Fawziyah’s family who are understandably devastated by her death.

"Fawziyah was much loved and had her life ahead of her with a new baby on the way. This was all cruelly taken from her and her unborn child at the hands of her own husband - someone who should have loved and protected her. Anwar’s actions were incomprehensible and as an investigation team, we welcome today’s verdict."

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