Custom House man jailed for wife’s ‘brutal’ murder

A man has been jailed for murdering his wife in a “frenzied attack” in which she was stabbed at least 26 times.

Asim Hasan, 33, of Burrard Road in Custom House, appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday (July 6) where he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Aaisha Hasan.

Hasan will serve a minimum of 21 years in jail.

He was previously found guilty in April following a trial at the same court.

Hasan called 999 at 6.24am on May 19 last year and told the operator that he had just stabbed his wife.

He continued speaking to the operator while officers and the London Ambulance Service came to the scene, telling them he was waiting for police to arrest him.

When emergency services arrived they immediately began CPR, but Aaisha was declared dead at the scene despite their efforts.

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Aaisha’s sister said: “I cannot help but feel that a part of me has died with her.

“The grief and pain of losing someone so close to us is indescribable, and the fact that her murder has left her children without a mother only compounds our sorrow.”

The post-mortem examination showed that Aaisha had suffered 36 sharp force wounds, including 26 stab wounds.

The jury heard that the couple were having relationship problems and there had been arguments about money and Hasan’s abusive behaviour.

Aaisha became so scared of her husband that she began secretly recording his behaviour.

On May 9 2022, ten days before she was murdered, Aaisha messaged friends to say that the day before he had attacked her following an argument.

She added: “I don’t want to call the police on him coz this can get him into serious trouble, I just want him out the house now.

“I don’t feel safe.”

The following day Hasan again started arguing with Aaisha.

She secretly recorded his behaviour, where he was heard refusing to let her out of a room.

He also threatened to pick-up a knife, with Aaisha telling him he would ‘kill her.’

A neighbour overheard the argument and police attended the address, but Aaisha appeared well and made no complaint, and so the matter was not taken any further.

In another recording made by Aaisha, Hasan began shouting at her and attacked her.

She told him to leave the house, adding: “The next time you will kill me, the next time you will kill me, I don’t want that.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Aaisha had tried to defend herself during Hasan’s frenzied attack, but she did not stand a chance against him.

“Hasan had denied murdering Aaisha, claiming he had not intended to at least cause serious harm.

“Thankfully, the jury disagreed and recognised the fact that you do not carry out a sustained, brutal attack such as that without, at the very least, intending to cause serious harm.

“Domestic abuse is often a hidden crime and we know it remains significantly under-reported.”

Police urged any domestic abuse victims to reach out for support.