Sanam Navsarka murder trial: Anwar admits mistakes

Feb 4 2009 by John Knighton, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SUBHAN Anwar said he made a mistake in not getting help for the toddler he is accused of murdering.

SUBHAN Anwar said he made a mistake in not getting help for the toddler he is accused of murdering.

The 21-year-old said he loved Sanam Navsarka “like she was his own daughter”.

And he admitted that he failed to seek the help the two-year-old desperately needed.

On his second day of giving evidence at Bradford Crown Court, Anwar, of Riddings Road, Deighton, claimed his co-accused Zahbeena Navsarka was threatening towards him.

Both Anwar and Navsarka deny murder. Navsarka admits failing to protect her daughter. Anwar denies causing or allowing the death of a child.

Anwar blames Navsarka for Sanam’s injuries.

James Curtis QC, for Navsarka, asked: “If she was such a nasty and manipulative person why did you stay with her?”

Anwar replied: “Because I was fond of her.”

He said he suspected Navsarka was trying to trap him by telling him she was pregnant.

The jury heard that the couple met in a phone shop in Batley in February 2008 and had sex in the shop the same day while little Sanam was sitting in her pram.

Within weeks of meeting each other they listed themselves as engaged on a housing application form, even though Anwar was already married.

The couple lived in Batley before moving to Deighton.

Mr Curtis continued: “You were overbearing, violent and controlling.

“You were so dominate of this quiet, shy girl that she let you take over.

“I suggest that you are a violent and sadistic man, you broke [Sanam’s] bones and then tried to cover it up.”

Anwar denied that was the case.