Phone 'put man at murder scene'

Alfusaine Jabbi was found dead in a Luton park

A man accused of murdering a faith healer used his mobile phone close to where the victim's body was found, a court has heard.

Imran Khan, 27, of Rondini Avenue, Luton, denies torturing and stabbing Alfusaine Jabbi, 22.

Mr Jabbi, who claimed he could help clients by sacrificing camels, was found dead in Leagrave Park, Luton.

Prosecutors claim signals from Mr Khan's phone placed him close to where the body was discovered in April 2006.

Tariq Malik, 28, and Khalid Malik, 29, of Selbourne Road, also deny murder.

The court was told the three accused men killed Mr Jabbi after the faith-healer took £14,000 from the Maliks' sister, Rubina Maroof.

Salt in wounds

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Khan said he had lent his phone to Khalid Malik at the time of the alleged murder.

He denied helping to dispose of Mr Jabbi's body.

Earlier Tariq Malik chose not to take the stand. The case for Khalid Malik is yet to be heard.

Jurors were told how Mr Jabbi was murdered after being lured by Mrs Maroof to her house.

Mrs Maroof, her husband and six-year-old son fled to Pakistan the day Mr Jabbi's body was found, the court heard.

The victim had been bound, beaten with industrial tin foil and had salt rubbed in his wounds. Rubina Maroof's friend Rubina Shah is charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm which she denies.

Guhar Mirza, Tariq Malik's wife, denies one charge of perverting the course of justice.

The case continues.