Inquest into woman’s unsolved death in 2015 begins

A mother at the centre of an unsolved murder investigation was discovered by her husband in their bedroom with bloody and extensive injuries, an inquest has heard.

Mumtaz Member was found dead at her home in Holmfield Avenue in Stoneygate, Leicester, on 12 December 2015, with significant injuries to her face, head and neck.

Leicestershire Police launched a murder investigation at the time but no-one has been convicted over Mrs Member’s death. Murder charges against her two sons and one of their partners was dropped in 2016 due to “insufficient evidence”.

An inquest began at Leicester Coroner’s Court into Mrs Member’s death on Monday.

Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distressing

Mrs Member’s sons – Mohammed Member and Shafiq Member – together with Shafiq’s partner Fatima Patel, were charged with murder in 2015 before charges were dropped in February 2016.

The inquest is a finding of fact as to how Mrs Member came about her death – not to find fault.

Under rule 22 of the Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013, a witness to an inquest can refuse to answer a question that might incriminate them.

Forensic pathologist Dr Mike Biggs, who carried out Mrs Member’s post-mortem examination, said she had multiple, severe injuries to her face, head and neck – including lacerations, bruising and broken bones.

He attended the house in Holmfield Avenue, and described the bedroom where Mrs Member was found as having “copious blood splatter on all four walls” as well as the ceiling and door.

A number of loose teeth and what were believed to be bone fractures were also found at the scene.

He described Mrs Member’s injuries as being caused “sustained blunt force trauma”, added that they were not indicative of hits or punches, but more likely injuries caused by a “hard or firm object”.

“These were not self-inflicted, someone else did this,” he said.

The court heard how any noise from the attack might have muffled, and that Mrs Member could have been unconscious during most of the incident.

Mr Biggs told the inquest that a neuropathologist concluded Mrs Member had suffered a traumatic brain injury.

A forensic scientist, Martin Beale – one of two who examined the scene following Mrs Member’s death – described blood being splattered across the bedroom, as well as a heavily blood-stained duvet.

He said it was “highly likely” there would have been blood on those responsible.

The court heard there was “no visible blood whatsoever outside that room”.

Mrs Member’s husband, Ibrahim, told the inquest how he and his wife had been staying at his parents’ house for three days, following the death of his father.

Mrs Member returned to their home on the night of 11 December, and Mr Member arrived the following morning to find Mrs Member in bed with fatal injuries, the inquest heard.

“When I opened the door [to the bedroom], I just couldn’t believe want I was seeing,” he said.

He told the court how he closed the door and began praying, before calling his brothers for support.

The court heard Mr Member checked for her pulse, before washing her blood off of his hands.

He then told his son, “your mum left us, your mum left us”, the court heard.

Addressing Mr Member, senior coroner, Prof Catherine Mason, said: “Are you responsible for the death of Mumtaz Member?”

“No ma’am,” Mr Member replied.

He also denied knowing who was responsible, or that he was trying to protect anyone in relation to his wife’s death.

The coroner said the inquest would hear from another witness, who believed a family gardener was responsible for Mrs Member’s death.

When asked if Mr Member also believed the gardener was responsible for her death, he said: “I think so.”

The inquest continues.