Husband killed wife after tracking her to refuge, court told

A man who stabbed his wife to death as she pushed their baby in a pram attacked her after tracing her to a hostel where she went while trying to get away from him, prosecutors told a jury.

Habibur Masum, 26, launched a "ferocious" attack on Kulsuma Akter, 27, after he confronted her on a street in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on 6 April last year.

Jurors at Bradford Crown Court heard Ms Akter had come to the city to be housed in a refuge "to escape [Masum's] violence, jealousy and controlling behaviour".

They were told Masum had previously threatened to kill Ms Akter and at the time of the fatal attack was subject to court bail conditions ordering him to keep away from her.

Prosecutor Steve Wood KC said Masum tracked Ms Akter to Bradford and days before the attack tried to lure her into leaving the hostel by pretending to be from a GP's surgery and offering her fake appointments.

The court heard Ms Akter was walking with a friend while pushing her seven-month-old son in a pram when she was confronted by the defendant at 3pm.

Mr Wood said she was shocked to see Masum as she believed he was in Spain.

CCTV showed Masum walking with Ms Akter until he stopped her, spun her and the pram around and pulled a knife from his jacket.

Mr Wood said: "He grabs Kulsuma and pushes her into a wall, stabbing her to the body. You will see that Kulsuma then goes to the ground only for the defendant to launch a ferocious and deadly attack.

"When the defendant had finished stabbing her, as a final act of sheer gratuitous violence, he kicks Kulsuma before moving away, but not before ensuring that he disposed of the knife."

Ms Akter suffered multiple stab wounds to her body and face, including a wound to the neck which partly cut her windpipe and severed her left jugular vein, the court heard.

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Mr Wood said: "The [prosecution] say this was cold-blooded, calculated, premeditated murder. Why would the defendant take a knife with him to meet his estranged wife unless he planned to use it?"

Jurors heard Ms Akter told a social worker from Oldham Council she "believed that one day her husband would kill her".

Masum denies murdering Ms Akter but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a knife. He also denies two charges of assault, one count of making threats to kill and one charge of stalking.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2025: Husband killed wife after tracking her to refuge, court told