A controlling and abusive husband who stabbed his wife 40 times after she told him she wanted a divorce has been jailed for life.
Syed Rafay Ahmad, 45, attacked Anam Rafay, 36, with a kitchen knife in their home in Lulworth Gardens in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester on the morning of 27 January.
He then sent a message to his family’s WhatsApp group, as well as to Anam’s father, saying: “I have killed my wife.”
Ahmad, who denied murder but dramatically changed his plea at Manchester Crown Court after three days of giving evidence, has been jailed for a minimum of 27 years and four months.
The court heard Anam had been filling up a water bottle at the kitchen sink when her husband first attacked her with the knife.
She managed to escape and ran to her next-door neighbour’s house for help but collapsed outside the front door.
Ahmad followed her and continued the attack before calmly walking back to his house, the court heard.
Neighbours, who had rushed to Anam’s aid, told the court how Ahmad appeared to be smirking as he left his wife dying on the floor.
He then watched from the upstairs window of the house before officers arrived and arrested him.