Motive for murder of Sameena Imam 'was Costco boss's desire to keep his job'

Detectives believe Roger Cooper's plan to make Sameena Imam "disappear" was motivated by a desire to keep his job - and prevent his long-term partner finding out about his affairs.

But officers remain puzzled as to why his brother, who had run a cafe inLoughborough and also worked as a doorman, agreed to help kill a woman he had only briefly met.

Texts sent by Miss Imam show she was led to believe that Roger Cooper intended to leave his partner for a new future with her, starting with a two-night Christmas break at Birmingham's Malmaison hotel.

Senior investigating officer Caroline Marsh, who led the murder inquiry, said: "Sameena parked round the corner from Costco, got in to Roger Cooper's vehicle and was driven to Leicester.

"We're unsure under what circumstances she was driven to Leicester - whether she was told she was going there for a quick visit before going to Malmaison, or whether she was unaware that she was being taken there.

"But certainly at the point that she got into Roger's vehicle she believedthey would be spending the night at Malmaison, and that clearly was not the plan that David and Roger Cooper had for her.

"The motive appears to sit firmly with Roger Cooper.

"Relationships within the management structure of Costco are forbidden and Sameena believed that she was going to have an open future with Roger Cooper, and therefore the relationship was going to become known.

"That jeopardised Roger Cooper's position within Costco as a manager, but also with his long-term partner who he was never going to leave.

"It's a mystery to the investigation why David Cooper would do something like this for his brother, an extreme act to kill a woman that he hardly knew."