The sister of “honour killing” victim Shafilea Ahmed was spared jail on Friday for organising a robbery at her parents’ house.
The arrest of Alesha Ahmed over the 2010 incident led to her telling detectives that she and her siblings had witnessed their parents killing Shafilea seven years before.
The pair were convicted of murder in the high-profile case this year.
Alesha pleaded guilty in the robbery case and was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Judge Stephen Irwin noted that most people found guilty of this crime would receive a significant jail sentence, but said he was taking into account Alesha’s circumstances.
“In my view, this is a case for mercy,” he said.
“I bear in mind all of the extraordinary circumstances I have outlined, in particular the truly appalling nature of what you had to witness, the impact this has had on you, and what you went through to be a witness…
“Yours is an extraordinary and terrifying story.”
Alesha helped organise the robbery at her parents’ home in Warrington, Cheshire in August 2010.
Three masked men broke into the house armed with a gun, hammer and iron bar, tied up her mother and three of the children, and threatened them with death before fleeing with cash and jewellery.
After being arrested in the case, Alesha told detectives about Shafilea’s death.
Her elder sister had vanished at the age of 17 in August 2003 and her remains were found in Cumbria in February 2004.
Alesha has spent the last two years in a witness protection programme.
She told her parents’ trial how the couple, Iftikhar, 52, and Farzana, 49, forced a plastic bag into Shafilea’s mouth and killed her.
The prosecution said the couple killed their “Westernised” daughter because they thought her behaviour was bringing shame on the family.
Both were sentenced to 25 years in jail, but Farzana is seeking to overturn her conviction.
Alesha is to be supervised by the probation service and will also undergo mental health treatment.
Police have released CCTV images of men they wish to speak to in connection with the robbery. The robbers have never been caught.
Shafilea sister spared jail over family home robbery
