Man Charged Over Crawley Murder

10 June 2011, 13:38

The husband of an aspiring teacher who bled to death in her car pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility today.

Shehla Baig, 27, was found seriously injured with stab wounds in a Volkswagen Passat outside her home in Woodfield Road, Crawley, West Sussex, on November 16 last year.

She bled to death after an artery in one of her legs was severed and also suffered stab wounds to her body and head, a post-mortem examination found.

Her husband Kashif Baig, 30, of Woodfield Road, Crawley, appeared at Lewes Crown Court where he entered the guilty plea but denied a charge of murder.

A provisional date for trial was set for October 17.

The court heard Baig suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

Wearing glasses, a checked shirt and grey trousers, he stood in the dock clasping his hands in front of him and with his head bowed throughout the hearing.

Mrs Baig, a classroom assistant with hopes of qualifying as a teacher, had a degree in computer science and married Baig in 2007.

In a statement issued shortly after her death, her family said she possessed a ``cheery personality, wonderful sense of humour and an infectious smile'' and was robbed of life while in her prime.

Baig was remanded in custody.