A WOMAN who was accused of murdering her husband has been reunited with her baby son and family after the case against her was dropped.

Nahid Shah, 20, of Princess Street, Great Harwood, was arrested in February after her husband Parvez died after he was found on fire outside the family home.

She was later charged with his murder and was due to be committed to crown court yesterday.

But the case was withdrawn at Hyndburn Magistrates' Court after Lancashire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was not enough evidence to secure a conviction.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "I can confirm that following discussions with the CPS the case has been discontinued.

"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the case."

Mrs Shah and five members of her family were arrested a fortnight after Mr Shah, 23, died in hospital.

He suffered 75 per cent burns in a fire at the house where the couple lived with their four-month-old son, Hamza, in the early hours of January 24. Mr Shah was found engulfed in flames outside the house next door, which is occupied by Mrs Shah's parents.

Mrs Shah was charged with murder on February 12 but the other three women and two men were all released without charge.

Anthony Allen, a partner at Burnley solicitors Grice and Ireland, who represented Mrs Shah during the case, said: "We got a fax on Tuesday to say the case was being discontinued.

"It said the decision had been made because there was not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

"We're delighted about it. We always thought it was a weak case, it's just a shame we couldn't get Mrs Shah bail.

"She was in custody at a remand centre from early February until earlier this week when she was released.

"She is now reunited with her young son and happy to be back with her family."

Mr Allen said he could not comment on whether Mrs Shah planned to take action against the police as a result of the case.

Mrs Shah and her family would not comment about the case today.

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