Gambling addict ‘stabbed wife to death in money row’, court hears
Asma Begum. Picture: Met Police - Credit: Archant
An “angry” gambling addict stabbed his wife 58 times in a row over money, a court has heard.
Debt-ridden chef Jalal Uddin, 47, allegedly launched a ferocious knife attack on mother-of-three Asma Begum, 31, at the family home in London City Island on January 11.
Prosecutor Daniel Robinson QC told jurors at the Old Bailey that there were so many cuts to Mrs Begum's face that a pathologist could not count them all.
Mr Robinson said: "She was cut, stabbed, slashed or chopped at with the knife at least 58 times.
"Such was the ferocity of the attack that pieces of the knife blade broke off in her face."
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He said the victim's hands were also badly cut, with one was almost severed at the wrist.
A pathologist described the amount of force used as "extreme", the court heard.
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Mr Robinson suggested the violence had erupted during a row about money.
He said: "According to members of their extended family, the couple had been arguing since the day before the killing about money, and the argument turned violent."
On the morning of the attack, Mrs Begum had told her sister that Uddin had hit her the night before, jurors heard.
Mr Robinson said the couple, who were originally from Bangladesh, had married in 2007 and lived in a flat in City Island Way.
Uddin worked as a chef at an Indian restaurant in Eltham, south-east London, and was known to have a gambling habit, he said.
In 2016, Mrs Begum reported Uddin to police for being verbally abusive and violent towards her, the court was told.
She told officers he would often beat her when they argued about money, the jury heard.
But Mr Robinson said Mrs Begum did not want to give evidence against her husband and they got back together.
Mrs Begum also allegedly told a housing officer in November 2016 that Uddin would hit her when she refused to hand over her meagre housekeeping money to feed his gambling.
Uddin was known as the "angry Indian" at an east London betting shop because he would hit gaming machines when he was losing, it was claimed.
One staff member recalled him losing more than £1,000 on the machines in one visit, Mr Robinson said.
At the time of Mrs Begum's death, Uddin had defaulted on a loan he took out with Clydesdale Bank in September 2016 for more than £16,000.
Uddin has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder.
The trial continues.
