Jury retires to consider verdicts in Leeds body in woods murder trial

Akshar Ali and his friend Yasmin Ahmed are accused of murdering Sinead Wooding at a house in Leeds before disposing of her body in woods near a lane in Alwoodley.

Leeds Crown Court has heard Ali, 27, of Scott Hall Road in Leeds, sent a text message after the alleged killing to prove that he was worried for Sinead Wooding’s welfare in a bid to fool police.

The jury were told the text read: “The kids miss you and so do I.”

Mr Ali and his friend Yasmin Ahmed, 27, of Reginald Mount, Potternewton, deny murdering 26-year-old Miss Wooding.

The pair are accused of killing mother-of-four Miss Wooding at Ms Ahmed’s home in Leeds.

The prosecution claim her body was kept in a cellar for two days before being transported to woodland near a lane in Alwoodley, north Leeds, where it was set on fire, the jury heard.

A pathologist’s examination showed Miss Wooding had been attacked with a hammer and stabbed six times.

The body had been wrapped in a duvet and trussed up with wire before being doused with petrol.

The smouldering remains were discovered on Stairfoot Lane at about 9am on Sunday 14 May by students on a run.

Mr Ali’s mother Aktahr Bi, 45, of Kings Road, Hyde Park, denies assisting an offender by making arrangements to dispose of Miss Wooding’s corpse.

His brother Asim Ali, 21, of Kings Road, Hyde Park, also denies assisting an offender by procuring a vehicle and assisting in the disposal and burning of her body.

A fifth defendant Vicky Briggs, 25, of Throstle Road, Middleton, denies assisting an offender by helping clean up and burn material after the murder.