Husband jailed for stabbing Teenage Wife to Death

Sahil Sharma, aged 24, of Croydon, received a life sentence for the murder of his teenage wife.

Kingston Crown Court heard he stabbed 19-year-old Mehak Sharma at their home on Ash Tree Way.

Shortly after 4:15 pm on October 29, 2023, he dialled 999 and calmly told the operator that he had killed his wife.

During the call, he claimed that Mrs Sharma had been cheating on him and was therefore “responsible” for her death. The court heard that the claims were untrue.

At the address, officers found Mrs Sharma unresponsive.

She had suffered catastrophic knife injuries to her neck and despite the efforts of medics at the scene, Mrs Sharma was pronounced dead around 20 minutes later.

A post-mortem examination later discovered that Mrs Sharma had died as a result of a stab wound to the neck.

The court heard that Sharma had abused his teenage wife throughout their marriage.

Prosecutor Julian Evans said: “While he was still in India and Mehak was in the UK, Sahil would call her repeatedly and expect she answer each time.

“She would be admonished by her employers for being on the phone while also being abused by her husband for not answering his calls.

“If Mehak was on the phone to her mother, Sahil would ask her to send screenshots to prove this.

“He became increasingly suspicious of her and accused her of lying about her whereabouts.”

In a statement, the victim’s mother said that she was “broken” and added that she felt that Sharma had killed her alongside her daughter.

A victim impact statement read out to the court from Mrs Sharma’s mother said:

“The one thing I want more than anything is to have my daughter back but this is not possible.

“No amount of prayers or money or support will bring her back to me. I am broken. Sahil hasn’t just murdered Mehak, I feel he has killed me as well.”

Detective Inspector Laura Semple, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said:

“This is a tragic case that has completely devastated a family.

“In killing his wife, Sharma has robbed her family of a loving daughter for reasons known only to himself.”

“While I am aware that nothing can bring Mehak Sharma back to them, I hope that the sentencing will bring some closure to her loved ones.

Sharma pleaded guilty to murder at a hearing on February 8, 2024.

He was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum of 15 years.

DI Semple added: “Mehak was killed in her own home, a place where she should have felt the safest, and by the person that who should have loved and protected her.

“My thoughts remain with her family and loved ones.”