Husband admits 'I killed my wife'

A man strangled his wife when he feared she was planning to abort their baby, a court has heard.

Rubina Begum Hassan was found by police officers last December at the home she shared with her husband in Western Street, Bedford.

St Alban's Crown Court heard Emran Hussan, 27, strangled his wife then laid her body out with a single rose.

The court heard he handed himself in, telling police he had killed her. He admits manslaughter but denies murder.

Lynn Taton QC, prosecuting, told the court the couple were cousins who had married in Bangladesh in 2005 after an arrangement between their families.

Mrs Hussan, 21, went to Bedford with her family while her husband went back to his job in Saudi Arabia before moving into the couple's own house in Bedford last November.

Arrest me, arrest me. I killed my wife, I killed my wife Emran Hussan

Ms Taton told the court that Mrs Hussan had previously complained to friends about her husband's "controlling" ways, including smashing a vase because she had been out with friends.

The court heard she found out she was unexpectedly pregnant and had expressed concerns about having a baby.

Mrs Hussan told her GP she was too young to have a baby and when asked how supportive her husband was, she replied: "Not everything is as it appears to be."

On 18 December, the couple arrived home from a doctor's appointment.

Later that day Mr Hussan handed himself into police, saying: "Arrest me, arrest me. I killed my wife, I killed my wife."

Single rose

Police and paramedics went to their home and found Mrs Hussan lying on her back with her arms by her side, her legs together and a single peach-coloured rose laid along her breast bone, the court was told.

Ms Taton said Mr Hussan told police his wife was an angry woman and often hit him during arguments.

She said: "He said at the doctor's she had told him to go away and she did not want their baby.

"He had told her he loved her and asked her not to kill their baby."

Mr Hussan told police he had overheard his mother-in-law telling his wife to tell him that she was not sure she was pregnant and then to arrange a termination.

Ms Taton said the accused told police he had never hit his wife before that day and once he realised she was not breathing he went to the police station for help.

Mr Hussan told police he did not know the word for "hurt" so had used "kill" as it was all he knew to say, the court heard.

The case continues.