A husband described as “violent, jealous, and controlling” has been found guilty of murder after fatally stabbing his wife in a shocking daylight attack, as she pushed their infant son in a pram through the city centre. Habibur Masum, 26, tracked down his wife, Kulsuma Akter, 27, who had sought sanctuary in a women’s refuge after years of abuse, before ambushing her on a street in Bradford last year.
During a lengthy trial at Bradford Crown Court, jurors heard chilling details of how Masum’s controlling behaviour escalated in the months leading up to the killing. Ms Akter had relocated to a secret address in order to avoid her husband, after an incident where he allegedly threatened her with a knife at their Oldham family home. Unbeknown to her, Masum had managed to trace her whereabouts by exploiting her phone’s location data, and was seen on CCTV lurking near the refuge days before the fatal attack.
The prosecution outlined how Masum sent a series of harrowing threats to Ms Akter, including menacing messages promising violence toward her and her family if she refused to return to him. In a further attempt to manipulate her, Masum impersonated staff from a local GP surgery, sending false messages about a supposed medical appointment for their son.
Believing Masum had left the country after he updated his social media profiles with claims of travel to Spain, Ms Akter felt it was safe to briefly leave her refuge. On 6 April, she was walking in Bradford with a friend, pushing her seven-month-old son in a pram, when Masum confronted her. Jurors viewed CCTV footage in which Masum was seen attempting to forcibly persuade Ms Akter to go with him, and, when rebuffed, pulled a knife from his jacket.
What followed was a ferocious and sustained assault. courtroom evidence detailed that Masum stabbed Ms Akter at least 25 times, continuing to inflict injuries after she fell to the pavement. As a final, brutal act, Masum lifted her head and deliberately slashed her throat before calmly leaving her dying in the street—her traumatised infant left behind in his pram. The court was told the defendant then walked through the city centre, caught on camera smiling as he boarded a bus, apparently convinced he had gotten away with his crime.
Following a significant nationwide manhunt, Masum was apprehended nearly 200 miles away in a Buckinghamshire car park on 9 April. He had travelled south to seek medical treatment for ‘lockjaw’ at a specialist hospital. Upon arrest, Masum initially denied memory of the killing, claiming during his testimony that he intended only to self-harm in front of his wife if she refused reconciliation. The prosecution, however, dismissed these claims as hollow, asserting that Masum’s demeanour showed no true remorse and that he was motivated purely by jealousy and a desire to control.
Further evidence presented in court revealed a longstanding pattern of domestic abuse and manipulation. The couple, married in Bangladesh before coming to the UK, had a turbulent relationship defined by possessiveness and threats. On numerous occasions, Masum had threatened violence or self-harm if Ms Akter sought to leave him. In November, after an altercation over a text message from a male colleague, Masum was accused of physically assaulting his wife, an allegation he denied.
During the investigation, disturbing messages from Masum to Ms Akter surfaced. In one, alongside a photograph of her refuge, he chillingly wrote: “I know that you are living in this place. If I had any wish to kill you, I could have from the first day. You do not know what you have lost but one day you will understand.”
Police officers and senior investigators expressed their horror at the crime’s brutality. Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Kulsuma suffered a brutal attack in broad daylight whilst her baby son was in his pram. Masum carried out the murder then calmly walked away as if nothing had happened. Kulsuma’s family have been left absolutely devastated. I hope today’s conviction will bring them a sense of justice.”
Masum admitted to manslaughter and carrying a knife in public but denied murder. On Friday, the jury found him guilty of murder, along with additional charges of assault, making threats to kill, and stalking. He did not react visibly as the verdicts were delivered. The sentencing is expected to take place on 22 July, when Mr Justice Cotter will determine the minimum prison term Masum must serve.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited discussions around domestic abuse and protection for vulnerable individuals fleeing violence. Kulsuma’s family have called for greater awareness and resources to prevent further tragedies, highlighting the importance of support services for those at risk. As the legal process continues, many hope the case will act as a sobering reminder of the perils faced by victims of domestic violence, and the collective responsibility to prevent such acts in the future.