Sisters jailed after they disguised themselves in full-face niqabs and followed a juror in their brother’s murder trial to try to influence him

From the Daily Mail and the Yorkshire Evening Post

Two Muslim sisters have been jailed after following a juror in their brother’s murder trial and trying to influence him. Masooma, 33, and Sakinha Khan, 34, were at Leeds Crown Court last year for their brother Naseer’s trial. 

He was facing court for the shooting of Pawel Matras, 21, in a cannabis deal. Naseer was found guilty and is serving 34 years in jail.

Two weeks into his trial the pair disguised themselves in full-face niqabs and followed a male juror to Leeds train station. It was there they travelled in the same train as him to Wakefield and approached him.

Prosecutor Michael Collins said the two women had changed into full hijabs which covered their faces and bodies 

‘They were in disguise. They followed (the juror) on to the train and stood close by him.’ ‘He was approached by the two defendants. One said to him “we want to speak to you but we are scared”. ‘One asked if he wanted her to take the hijab off. One said “we want to talk to you about the trial and Naseer”.’

Mr Collins said the juror refused to speak to them and informed staff at Leeds Crown Court what had happened the next day.

The juror was discharged from the jury and the sisters were arrested.

Mr Collins said police seized Masooma Khan’s mobile phone and discovered a text conversation with a cousin or family member who was responding to her plea for help with the trial. Mr Collins said: “The contact claims he has a connection to someone who can bribe judges.”

Masooma Khan, of Queens Crescent, Camden, London and Sakina Khan, of The Avenue, Bronbsbury Park, London, both admitted perverting the course of justice.

Kate Bissett, mitigating for Masooma Khan, said her client is a law graduate, adding: “It is her own fault. She accepts that she has entirely thrown her life away.”

Mohammed Bashir, mitigating for Sakina Khan, said: “This juror was able to go back the next day and say what happened with no fear on his part.”

However, Judge Tom Bayliss QC jailed the pair for 18 months each. 

He said: ‘This was a determined attempt to influence a juror in a murder trial. It wasn’t borne out of naivety, you targeted the juror. You thought because of his ethnicity you might find a sympathetic ear. The consequences to the administration of justice was immense.  Had you succeeded you would have secured the acquittal of your brother, a man guilty of murder. . . The jury system is a cornerstone of a judicial system. Those who sit on juries undertake a duty on behalf of the public.”

The Khan sisters’ brother Naseer Khan and accomplice Abdullah Ullah were jailed for life after being convicted of murder by the jury a Leeds Crown Court last February