Man Found Guilty After Killing Pregnant Ex-Wife with Crossbow
Cold-Blooded Attack in Ilford
A man has been convicted of murdering his eight-months-pregnant ex-wife by shooting her with a crossbow. Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 51, of no fixed address, was found guilty at the Old Bailey following a gripping trial.
On 12 November 2018, Unmathallegadoo ambushed 35-year-old Sana Muhammad at her Ilford home. Armed with two crossbows, he hid in a garden shed, lying in wait at around 7.30am.
Harrowing Chase and Fatal Shot
After being spotted by Sana’s husband Imtiaz, Unmathallegadoo gave chase into the house. Imtiaz warned his wife to run, but before she reached safety upstairs, Unmathallegadoo fired an 18-inch arrow that pierced Sana’s hip and tore through vital organs.
Miraculously, the arrow missed the unborn baby, but Sana’s injuries caused severe internal bleeding, leading to a heart attack. Despite an emergency caesarean and hospital efforts, she died from her wounds.
Stalking, Stockpiling & Chilling Planning
Police investigations revealed Unmathallegadoo had methodically prepared for the attack months in advance. He spent over £1,000 buying crossbows and arrows online, spreading purchases across multiple suppliers to avoid raising suspicion.
A handwritten surveillance chart and attempts to check garden shed security were found, showing cold calculation. On the day of the attack, a black rucksack with personal items and duct tape was found in the shed.
Devastated Family Speaks Out
“Sana was my soulmate, my best friend, my everything. We had a happy life — Ram must have been jealous,” said husband Imtiaz Muhammad.
Her mother, Ellemah Sutharamandoo, expressed profound grief: “I lived for my daughter and grandchildren. Now, I am alone, unable to forgive him for this hateful and calculated act.”
Detective’s Verdict
Detective Sergeant Amjad Sharif from Scotland Yard said: “Sana Muhammad was killed in cold blood by a man consumed with bitterness and jealousy. He fired a lethal weapon at a defenceless pregnant woman, showing utter disregard for her and her unborn child.”
“His actions shattered a family, leaving six children motherless and a husband mourning his wife.”
Unmathallegadoo will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 29 November. The verdict brings a measure of justice for Sana’s shattered family, but the pain and loss remain searing.
