Shafilea trial: Alesha Ahmed cross-examined

Chester Crown Court has heard that Alesha Ahmed lied to police about her sister's murder because she had been ordered to 'paint the picture' of a perfect family.

On Wednesday the court heard how the 23 year-old was interviewed by police a month after sister Shafilea's Ahmed's disappearance in 2003.

During proceedings she admitted to 'making up' answers during that interview relating to her parent's alleged abuse of their daughter, and Shafilea's disappearance.

"There was a lot of abuse and I was trying to cover it up basically. I was painting the picture that we all got on very well so that people didn't suspect anything."

She also revealed how she spoke of the murder before a Spanish lesson at Great Sankey High School and was overhead by teacher Joanne Code who then quizzed her about Shafilea.

Defending, Murkthar Hussain QC read out a transcript of Alesha being quizzed by officers on what happened the night her sister was allegedly killed in September 2003.

She told officers then that Shafilea was 'really happy' and went upstairs to do homework.

"That's exactly what my parents told me to say, said Alesha.

"They used a scenario from a previous occasion when she actually ran away."

Alesha says she witnessed them suffocate her in the lounge of their Liverpool home.

The court heard how she told police during the three and a half hour interview in 2003 about the morning after her murder. She described going to wake her sister up for school and how she had gone, probably 'out the window'.

Mr Hussain: "So that was all made up?

Alesha: "Yes."

The witness also described how she lied to police about the days following the alleged murder covering for her parents failure to report her missing.

She added: "My mum explained to me that last time (Shafilea ran away) she went down to report it and they said (the police) she's 16, she can do what she wants."

But on Wednesday, Alesha said: "That's not true, it's false".

The trial continues.

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