Kashif Anwar has been jailed for 20 years for pushing his pregnant wife off Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh days before she was set to leave him.
Kashif Anwar, 29, was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of murdering Fawziyah Javed, 31, in September 2021 by pushing her from the hill, causing her multiple blunt force injuries and ultimately her death and that of her unborn child.
Anwar, from Leeds, denied the charge, but after a week-long trial a jury found him responsible.
Ms Javed, who was around 17-weeks pregnant when she was pushed, used her dying words to reveal it was her abusive husband who caused her to fall around 50ft down the hillside.
Daniyah Rafique, 24, who had reached the dying employment lawyer on the side of the landmark, where she said: “Don’t let my husband near me, he pushed me.”
The court heard PC Rhiannon Clutton, 35, was told by Ms Javed her husband pushed her because she “told him I wanted to end [the marriage]”.
Her heartbroken parents – Yasmin and Mohammed Javed from Leeds, tragically lost their only child, and found themselves having to identify her body on what would have been her birthday.
Fawziyah, a former student of Gateways School, was a solicitor at Leeds firm Lyons Davidson, qualifying in 2020 and working as a paralegal there beforehand. She also volunteered with local charities.
Speaking to Asian Express her mother Yasmin said: “Our whole, entire world came crashing down with Fawziyah’s death. She was truly as sweet as an angel.
“No mother, no parent should ever have to endure the deep, bottomless pain felt by the loss of a child. Both her dad and I are completely broken.
“Fawziyah was an only child, and she was just perfect in every way. That’s not just me saying this as her mother – I’ve had countless of people contacting me and telling me how wonderful she was and how she had touched their lives.”
Judge Lord Beckett imposed a mandatory life sentence on Anwar with an imprisonment period of a minimum of 20 years. He told Anwar: “You have been found guilty of murdering Fawziyah Javed who was a very special person. She was your pregnant wife and you also caused the death of your unborn child.”
He told the killer that his victim was willing to trust that he would keep her safe when they went up Arthur’s Seat, but that he pushed her off when nobody else was around.
Detective Inspector Bob Williamson, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult and traumatic time for Fawziyah’s family who are understandably devastated by her death.
“Fawziyah was much loved and had her life ahead of her with a new baby on the way.
“This was all cruelly taken from her and her unborn child at the hands of her own husband – someone who should have loved and protected her.
“Anwar’s actions were incomprehensible and as an investigation team, we welcome today’s verdict.
“I sincerely hope that the fact that he has now been found guilty will afford Fawziyah’s family and friends some sense of justice.”
