Four jailed over 'honour' killing

Mr Mehmood was executed on the outskirts of Halifax

Four men have been jailed for a so-called "honour killing" where the husband of a woman was executed on the outskirts of a West Yorkshire town.

Victim Mian Shahid Mehmood, who had moved to Halifax from Pakistan to be with his 23-year-old wife, Yasmin, was shot dead in February 2007.

At Leeds Crown Court, Sam Lee, John Reeves, Naveed Mahmood and Arza Khan were convicted of the killing.

Another man is to face a re-trial on his part in the killing.

The 29-year-old victim was found dead at a remote location on the outskirts of Halifax.

Khan, Naveed Mahmood, and Reeves were told they would have to serve a minimum of 32 years in jail before they were eligible for parole.

Lee was told he would have to serve at least 25 years.

This sort of behaviour in a civilised world cannot be tolerated Judge Stewart QC

Jurors heard Arza Khan disapproved of his sister Yasmin's relationship with Mr Mehmood and ordered the other men to carry out the killing.

The murder plan was hatched after threats and violence towards Yasmin had failed to stop the marriage.

The judge, James Stewart, QC, said an aggravating feature of the case was the "significant degree of planning which went into this cold-blooded execution".

He told the four men: "Life to you four seems so cheap.

"This was a planned execution of an innocent victim for no other reason other than he married the person he loved, contrary to your wishes Arza Khan."

Judge Stewart said the evidence pointed to Reeves being the actual gunman with Naveed Mahmood the "fixer" and with Lee providing the "muscles" in case the victim fought back.

He told Khan: "Your arrogance in believing you knew what was best for your own younger sister is mind boggling.

"There is no honour in what you did, quite the reverse. You have only brought dishonour and disgrace upon your family which has been rent asunder by your cruelty and arrogance.

"This sort of behaviour in a civilised world cannot be tolerated."