Wife of Murderer told killed Lover’s Wife not to Give Evidence

Sabrina Mamaniat, aged 27, of Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, received a suspended prison sentence on September 2, 2019, after she told her murdered lover’s wife not to provide evidence.

Mamaniat had an affair with her brother-in-law which resulted in his murder. She told his widow that giving evidence would “ruin the family’s reputation”.

Her husband Ibrahim Mahetar, aged 35, murdered his brother Naseer Mahetar in front of his wife Asma Daji in Batley in August 2018.

Leeds Crown Court heard that he had become paranoid because he believed his brother had sex with his wife.

Mahetar assaulted his brother with a baseball bat before stabbing him three times.

During a seven-day trial, jurors heard that a rumour of the alleged affair came to light in April 2018.

The day before the murder, Ibrahim recorded himself “interrogating” his wife about the rumour. She eventually told him that they had sex on one occasion.

He was jailed for a minimum of 16 years and 188 days in February 2019.

However, Mamaniat approached Mrs Daji, the key witness in her husband’s trial, and told her not to give evidence on January 7, 2019.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, explained that Mamaniat asked to meet her lover’s wife before driving to the end of her street in Soothill, Batley.

The two women spoke in the car while Mrs Daji’s sister Ammarah Daji listened to their conversation. Ms Egerton said:

“The defendant had an affair with Mrs Daji’s husband.

“She told her it would all come out at the trial and to think of the children and if it was her she would do anything she could to keep it away from court.”

Mamaniat told Mrs Daji that the coverage of the trial would have an effect on their children and people’s opinions of their family.

She was arrested 10 days later. Mamaniat appeared at Leeds Crown Court on February 28, 2019, to enter a plea but she did not.

Mamaniat appeared on September 2, 2019, where she pleaded guilty to attempted intimidation on the basis that she did not commit the offence intending to intimidate the witness or prevent her from giving evidence.

She has no previous convictions.

In mitigation, Jessica Heggie said that Mamaniat regrets her choice, which included no violent threats.

She explained that it has been a “devastating year for all involved”.

Ms Heggie said:

“The defendant and complainant have both suffered a family tragedy.”

She said that Mamaniat now leads a quiet life and is alone at home caring for her three children while her husband is in prison.

The Examiner reported that Sabrina Mamaniat received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for one year. She was also ordered to complete 90 hours of unpaid work.