A student was jailed for life yesterday for stabbing her lover’s pregnant wife to death after the breakdown of her affair.

Harmohinder Sanghera stabbed Sana Ali 42 times with a kitchen knife after discovering that she was about to have Sair Ali’s baby.

Sanghera, 23, a gifted dental student, feared that the baby would lead to the final collapse of her two-year relationship with Mr Ali. Even if he had been single it would have been difficult for the two to marry because she was a Sikh and he came from an orthodox Muslim family.

Mr Ali, 24, and his wife, who was 17, were cousins. He was described in court as a weak-willed man who had agreed eight years ago to an arranged marriage with her.

He and Sana, who was described as shy and reserved, married in Pakistan last December and lived at his family home.

In 2005 he had begun a relationship with Sanghera, who was studying at Birmingham University after securing 3 A levels and was described in court as an independent and intelligent woman. It was not until February this year that Sanghera found out about the marriage.

Mr Ali had explained his trip abroad by saying that he was on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The following month she discovered that Mrs Ali was pregnant. After backing down on her initial demand that he should divorce his wife, Sanghera agreed to his suggestion that they continue their relationship at least until May 16.

Peter Wright, QC, told Manchester Crown Court that as May 16 approached, Sanghera became “increasingly abusive” about Mrs Ali. He said that she had wanted to be “first-best, not second-best”.

A letter that she had written to Mr Ali was read to the jury: “I know you need to make your parents happy and you know that it would take a lot of time but I could be the golden girl. I cannot be second place to someone else and not live in hope that it will all out one day.”

Another said: “Maybe I am a psycho, crazy or just a fool or maybe all of those things. All I know is that I love you so, so much.”

On May 11 this year Sanghera travelled from her home in Solihull, in the West Midlands, to the Alis’ home in Bury, Greater Manchester, while Mr Ali was praying at a local mosque. She had told a friend that she was going to tell Mrs Ali about the affair.

After being invited in, Sanghera launched the attack with a 7in (17cm) knife. The court was told that Sanghera had deliberately lifted Mrs Ali’s top while she lay on the bedroom floor and stabbed her in her abdomen.

The body was later discovered by Mrs Ali’s sister-in-law.

Sanghera was convicted yesterday of murder by a majority jury verdict after a three-week trial. Judge John Saunders said that she would serve a minimum of 14 years, after he had taken into account the degree of planning and premeditation and that Sanghera knew that Mrs Ali was 11 weeks pregnant. He said that Sanghera had been acting under “extreme distress”.

Outside the court Mrs Ali’s mother, Maryam Fatima, said that she had been given justice, adding: “Sana will be happy today. Sana will smile today. Sana will be in peace today.”

Mr Ali’s father, Zafir Ali, added: “This day brings us no joy as we have lost our Sana, a beautiful wife, daughter, sister and mother-to-be.”

In an impact statement read out to the court, Sair Ali said that his wife’s death had devastated the family. “The loneliness and emptiness in our hearts and lives are indescribable. No one can sleep, we all have nightmares. We cannot stay in the house now. The life of this house and family has gone. Every day is painful to live. Everything reminds us of Sana and the guilt that we are still alive and she isn’t is unbearable.

“Our child we know was a son. Sana was perfect, irreplaceable and dearly loved. We will never recover from losing her.”

Detective Superintendent Jane Antrobus, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “This is an absolutely tragic case. Sanghera was jealous and desperate and went to incredible lengths to try to save her relationship, the result of which was this horrific murder.

“These terrible circumstances have wrecked two families – both Sana and Sanghera’s family have lost their daughters.”

A husband’s grief

Sair Ali’s victim impact statement to the court read:

“We were first cousins, as our mothers Nabila and Maryam are sisters. We grew up together and we got engaged eight years ago. We got married in Pakistan in December 2006. The day was perfect and it was one of the happiest days of my life. We were very happy together. When Sana told me she was expecting our child in March this year I was over the moon and told everybody our happy news. We even picked a name for our child, Abdul. “When we were told of Sana’s death it ripped our hearts apart. We were in shock and disbelief. “The loneliness and emptiness in our hearts and lives are indescribable. The life of this house and family has gone. No one can go into Sana’s bedroom, the door is always closed. Her clothes still hang in her wardrobe. I am suffering from depression and have no goal or ambition in life any more. We can’t see the way forward any more. Every day is painful to live. Everything reminds us of Sana and the guilt that we are still alive and she isn’t is unbearable . . . “Sana was perfect, irreplaceable and dearly loved. We will never recover from losing her. Our families were so excited about the baby. . . It was my dream – becoming a dad, becoming a family with children.”

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