OLDBURY, UK – A 41-year-old man has been found guilty of murder after ramming his teenage girlfriend against a lamppost with a flatbed truck and attempting to stage a hit-and-run cover-up.
The Conviction
Following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Mohammed Azim was convicted of the murder of 19-year-old Lily Whitehouse.
The fatal incident occurred shortly after 9:30 p.m. on November 5, on Park Street in Oldbury. Paramedics discovered Whitehouse with catastrophic injuries just hours after she had visited her prematurely born baby in a hospital’s intensive care unit.
The Cover-Up Unravels
According to West Midlands Police, Azim attempted to deflect blame by calling emergency services and claiming Whitehouse was the victim of a hit-and-run by another vehicle. He stated to dispatchers that she “had been run over” and that he had placed her inside his truck.
However, a detailed police investigation proved otherwise. Detectives established that Azim killed Whitehouse at a nearby location, placed her body back into his truck, and drove her to Park Street to stage the scene.
Medical evidence presented during the trial showed Whitehouse suffered extensive traumatic injuries, including:
- Severe chest trauma and a lacerated liver
- A broken upper arm
- Multiple fractured ribs
History of Abuse Revealed
During court proceedings, jurors heard testimony regarding the abusive nature of the relationship. A close friend of the victim testified that Azim frequently subjected Whitehouse to physical and verbal abuse, leaving visible marks on her arms.
Evidence also revealed that the deceased teenager’s newborn baby was not Azim’s, and that she had actively tried to hide the pregnancy from him.
Defense Claims Accident
Azim’s defense attorney, Imran Shafi, argued during closing statements that the incident was a tragic accident or manslaughter rather than murder, citing that Azim was the one who called 999. The defense maintained there was no evidence of intent to cause serious harm or death.
The jury rejected the defense’s claims, returning a guilty verdict for murder. Azim remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday.
