'Arranged marriage' girl found in river had been 'smothered or strangled'

The most likely cause of death of a teenage girl whose badly decomposed body was found in a river was smothering or strangulation, a pathologist said today.

Dr Alison Armour told an inquest in Kendal, Cumbria, that it was "not credible" that 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed died of natural causes.

Shafilea disappeared four months after a family trip to Pakistan during which she drank bleach after being introduced to an arranged marriage suitor.

Police launched a murder inquiry after her body was discovered by workmen close to the flooded River Kent at Sedgwick, near Kendal, in February 2004.

Earlier in the day, her father had told the hearing that he was "surprised" when she went missing from home.

Iftikhar Ahmed described her as a "bright child" but "problems arose" when she began her sixth form studies.

The student was last seen on September 11, 2003 at the home in Warrington she shared with her parents, three sisters and younger brother.

Opening the inquest, South Cumbria Coroner Ian Smith asked Mr Ahmed to confirm his daughter's personal details.

Mr Smith then asked him what kind of person she was.

Mr Ahmed replied: "She was a very normal child, very bright."

The coroner questioned him on whether he had any difficulties with her.

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"Not up to secondary school," Mr Ahmed said.

"The problems arose when she went into the sixth form."

He added that Shafilea did not explain directly to him why she was leaving home.

The family did not suspect her of doing anything wrong while she was in the sixth form, he said.

Mr Smith said: "When she went missing, was that a surprise to you?"

"Yes," replied Mr Ahmed.

He said his daughter's ambition was to become a solicitor and he encouraged her in her studies and was proud of her achievements.

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Mr Ahmed and his wife, Farzana, were arrested on suspicion of her kidnap in December 2003 and later released on police bail.

Five other relatives - believed to be based in the Bradford area, where Shafilea was born - who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, were also released on police bail.

No-one has been charged with her murder and her parents, who offered a £5,000 reward to catch her killer, have always maintained they had nothing to do with her death.

Police released song lyrics written by the teenager which referred to a clash of cultures and her family's preoccupation with "honour".

Mr Ahmed will give his full evidence later in the inquest.

The hearing continues.