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Why Dad Killed Mum: My Family's Secret

Series 1

Episode 2

Duration: 29 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC One SouthLatest broadcast: on BBC One Northern Ireland HD

Available for 5 months

Tasnim was 16 months old when her dad set her mum's home in Telford alight. Tasnim's mum, grandmother and aunt were all killed in the fire. Lucy Lowe, Tasnim's mum, was only 16 years old. Azhar Ali Mehmood, Tasnim's dad, has served 18 years in jail for triple murder. He is now eligible for release and Tasnim has been asked to bring her opinion to the parole board. Tasnim wants answers. She investigates her parent's relationship and her search reveals a shocking truth that takes her deep into a secret that rocked a community.

Azhar was nine years older than Lucy when she became pregnant at 14 years old. Tasnim accesses court transcripts from her dad's trial. Reports of possessive behaviour and sexual jealousy were included in the court transcript but the trial never investigated the exploitative nature of their relationship. Tasnim's grandfather also remembers arguments between Lucy and Azhar and was aware that their relationship was turbulent. Tasnim faces an uncomfortable truth: why did no-one listen to Lucy?

One of Lucy's childhood friends gets in touch with Tasnim. She claims that Azhar also manipulated and groomed her and other underage girls. Evidence is building up to suggest that Lucy was in an abusive relationship and was also likely groomed.

Geraldine McKelvie, an investigative journalist, worked for three years to expose a network of organised child sexual exploitation in Telford. Tasnim meets her to try to understand why the authorities didn't raise concerns about the nature of Lucy's relationship with Azhar. Show less

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