BRITAIN: The parents of a murdered British teenager made an unexpected appearance at a police news conference yesterday to deny any involvement in their daughter's death.
Iftikhar and Farzana Ahmed took the unusual step to counter allegations that their 17-year-old daughter Shafilea was killed after refusing to take part in an arranged marriage.
Investigating officers had earlier confirmed that the teenager, from Warrington, Cheshire, was murdered and her body hidden in undergrowth near the River Kent, Sedgwick, in Cumbria.
Her badly decomposed body was discovered by workmen three weeks ago, but was only positively identified yesterday following forensic tests.
Yesterday Mr and Mrs Ahmed, aged 44 and 41, who were both arrested last December on suspicion of having been involved in their daughter's disappearance, issued a statement through their solicitor calling for Cheshire Police to look elsewhere for Shafilea's killer.
Solicitor Mr Milton Firman, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said: "Mr and Mrs Ahmed wish to confirm once more that they strenuously deny any direct or indirect involvement in their daughter's untimely demise.
"If called upon to do so, they shall not hesitate to defend their good and unblemished names in any court." Police were not expecting the Ahmeds at the briefing and both parents wept as the emotional statement was read out.
Shafilea disappeared from the family home six months ago following a trip to Pakistan where she drank bleach after being introduced to an arranged marriage suitor.
Detective Chief Insp Geraint Jones, from Cheshire Police, would not be drawn yesterday on whether the young woman died because she refused to take part in an arranged marriage. He said he had never used the term.