Aminan Rahman, 46, is facing life in prison after being found guilty of the murder of his 24-year-old wife, Suma Begum, whose body was discovered in a suitcase washed up in Thamesmead. Rahman strangled Begum in their east London flat on April 29 last year, an act witnessed by her two young children and her online boyfriend via a video call from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Following the murder, Rahman stuffed Begum’s body into a suitcase and was caught on CCTV dumping it in the River Lea, which eventually led to the Thames. The decomposed body was discovered by a mudlark 10 days later on the riverbank in Thamesmead.
The court heard harrowing testimony from Shahin Miah, 24, Begum’s online boyfriend, who had recorded part of the fatal incident. Miah, who was in the UAE at the time, described how Rahman threatened to kill Begum, showing her lifeless body on a video call and warning Miah to “get ready.”
The murder was a culmination of a tumultuous relationship. Begum married Rahman in an arranged Islamic ceremony over the phone in 2019 and moved from Bangladesh to live with him in Somerset, where they had two children. However, she later began an online relationship with Miah, whom she met on TikTok and later communicated with on WhatsApp.
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC detailed the circumstances leading to Begum’s death, noting her desire to leave Rahman and his reaction driven by rage, jealousy, and cultural expectations. Ledward stated, “It is clear this young woman was no longer happy in her marriage, she was fairly openly in a relationship with another man, and she had expressed the desire to leave the defendant.”
In his defence, Rahman claimed he never intended to harm Begum and acted in defence of their older child, whom he alleged Begum had threatened. The prosecution dismissed this claim, highlighting Rahman’s premeditated actions and attempts to cover up the murder.
The jury deliberated for four hours and 27 minutes, ultimately finding Rahman guilty of all charges, including murder, assault by beating, and preventing the lawful and decent burial of Begum’s body. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31.
Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, commented on the complexity of the case and the meticulous efforts of the Metropolitan Police: “This case demonstrates that Met detectives will do everything possible to build as strong a case as possible against those who perpetrate acts of domestic violence. My team of homicide detectives analysed hundreds of hours of CCTV to trace his movements before and after the murder. We also managed to retrieve and download the full video call that Rahman made to Suma’s boyfriend, further proving he killed her in a jealous rage.”
The case has drawn significant attention to the issues of domestic violence and the challenges faced by victims seeking to escape abusive relationships. Suma Begum’s tragic story underscores the need for continued vigilance and support for those at risk.
