A man who stabbed his wife in the head, leaving her with catastrophic brain damage, has been jailed for 30 years at Birmingham Crown Court. Amir Khan, 25, used a screwdriver or similar object to inflict a devastating injury on his wife, Madia Bano, 25, at their home in Lozells on November 1 last year.
Victim's condition
Ms Bano has been in a coma since the attack and suffers from Locked-in plus syndrome, meaning she cannot communicate or even blink. Judge Dean Kershaw stated that without medical intervention, she will die, describing her injury as 'as close to death as can possibly be'. He added that she has permanent brain damage and is unlikely to recover.
The attack
CCTV footage showed Ms Bano returning to their home behind a takeaway on Villa Road with two of her children at around 10pm. Within 32 minutes, Khan had stabbed her in the head with such force that the instrument penetrated her skull and damaged her brainstem. Khan called emergency services at 10.32pm, initially claiming he found his wife injured on the bed, then changing his story to say he found her unresponsive against a wall.
Khan's background
Khan, an illegal immigrant from Pakistan, had an asylum claim rejected but was granted leave to remain on family grounds until March this year. He did not give evidence at his trial and was found guilty of attempted murder. Judge Kershaw described him as 'cold, callous, and someone who lacks empathy', noting that Khan appeared primarily concerned with the effects on himself.
Sentencing
Sentencing on Tuesday, July 7, Judge Kershaw imposed a 30-year custodial sentence with an extended six-year licence. He said Khan's lack of acceptance, lies, and false accounts would be considered for any future release. Michael Duck KC, defending, said Khan had no previous convictions and had worked hard to support his family, but added that there was little to mitigate the violence.
