Children 'killed as they rang 999'

Saba Zaidi (right) and her little brother Zeeshan

A jealous husband massacred his estranged wife and their two children in a frenzied knife attack, a court has heard.

Zainulabedin Zaidi was on a contact visit when he repeatedly stabbed Shazia, in front of their daughter Saba, seven, and son Zeeshan, six, a jury at Reading Crown Court was told.

Adrian Redgrave, prosecuting, said one of the children rang 999 and could be heard pleading: "Don't kill me Daddy," before he was stabbed.

Shazia Zaidi worked as a social worker

Mr Zaidi, 34, of Goodman Park, Slough, Berkshire, denies three charges of murder.

Mr Redgrave said Mr Zaidi stabbed his 27-year-old wife in the face, the chest and several times in the neck. The couple, who had an arranged marriage, were in the process of a divorce.

"She did her best to defend herself, as witness deep cuts to both of her hands and blood spattered about the living room," said Mr Redgrave.

Mr Zaidi, who was wearing gloves, had gone to his wife's home in Bracknell, Berks to collect the children for a visit, the jury heard.

The children went upstairs to the main bedroom, where one of them called 999 and told the operator: "My dad is getting my mum and stabbing and killing her", said Mr Redgrave.

Gasping sounds

Mr Zaidi bolted the front door to prevent them escaping and ran upstaris after them, the court heard.

Screams and gasping sounds were heard from one of the children during the one-minute call.

Mr Redgrave continued: "Both died from deep stab wounds to the neck."

Their bodies were found lying a few feet from each other.

'Blood-soaked carpet'

The living room carpet was soaked with blood and the banisters were spattered.

She did her best to defend herself, as witness deep cuts to both of her hands and blood spattered about the living room

Adrian Redgrave

After the killings, Mr Zaidi dumped the knife in a bowl under the sink and later destroyed his blood-spattered clothes, Mr Redgrave said.

Mrs Zaidi, who worked as a social worker at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, left her "jealous" husband three years ago after an unhappy nine-year marriage.

She moved to Bracknell with her children and married new boyfriend Saeed Dogar in secret.

On the day of the massacre she had been planning an evening meal to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha with Mr Dogar and the children.

The jury was told Mr Zaidi later claimed Mr Dogar was responsible for the massacre.

But Mr Redgrave said it was "physically impossible" for him to have been at the house at the time of the killing.

Mr Dogar was at a butcher's shop in Chalvey, Slough, buying meat for the meal when the murders happened.

He paid for the meal by credit card at 3.45pm and arrived at Mrs Zaidi's home to find the aftermath of the tragedy.

The trial continues.