A KEBAB shop boss murdered his mother-in-law and then dismembered her body, a court heard today.

Muhummed Arshad, 37, who was known as Akbar to family members, dismembered the body of Zeinab Begum, wrapped it in plastic bags, and took it to a takeaway restaurant he jointly ran with his brother Mohammed Sharif Khan, the jury was told.

Mrs Begum's body has never been found, the prosecution said at Preston Crown Court.

But forensic officers did find Arshad's handprint in her blood in her bathroom at her home in Accrington, the court heard.

Arshad's brother Mohammed Sharif Khan, 37, - known as Shazad - of Middleton Road, Crumpsall - who is also married to one of Mrs Begum's daughters - is charged with assisting in the disposal of her body parts.

Prosecutor David Turner QC told the jury: "The prosecution say that the first defendant murdered her in her own home, dismembered the body and then together with his brother Mohammed Sharif Khan took the dismembered body wrapped in bags to a takeaway restaurant they jointly ran.

"Her blood was found a points in the takeaway premises. The blood distribution suggested that the body parts had been stored behind the bar before being taken down to the kitchen. At that point the blood trail stops. What happened to the body afterwards is known only to the two defendants who together disposed of her body to ensure that no trace of Zeinab Begum would ever be found."

Mrs Begum was a 56-year-old mother-of six who lived at Burnley Road in Accrington.

The prosecution allege she was murdered on January 13 and that on the last day of her life she saw her daughter off to school.

She had never been seen by her family since, the court heard.

Mr Turner added that police initially launched a missing person inquiry and Arshad, who worked at Holland's Pies in Baxenden, was questioned.

After further questioning of Arshad and Khan, scenes of crime officers had searched Mrs Begum's Burnley Road address where they had found bloodstains on a cupboard door and on the landing.

Mr Turner said: "This stain appeared to form a possible handprint. There was a long smear of blood staining at floor level opposite the rear bedroom. In the front bedroom there was a large bloodstain on the carpet in the centre of the room as well as bloodstaining on a chest of drawers and on a wall."

"On January 28, two weeks after her disappearance, the police decided to arrest Akbar."

Arshad was questioned six times by police about the blood stains, said Mr Turner. On the sixth occasion, he told police he had killed Zeinab Begum after she made sexual advances towards him.

Mr Turner added: "He put forward what we suggest is an untrue and unlikely scenario.

"He stated that Zeinab had made sexual advances towards him and that he had thrown her off. In doing this she banged her head on a wall. He saw there was blood coming from her nose. He checked her pulse and realised she was dead.

"He then moved her body to the bathroom and left her in the bath while he went to the Millennium takeaway to get some cleaver-type tools. He returned to Burnley Road where he attempted to dismember Mrs Begum's body and then poured caustic soda over the body parts."

(Proceeding)