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Manchester councillor Faraz Bhatti 'threatened wife'

  • June 27, 2011 at 5:24 pm

27 June 2011 Last updated at 16:09 ET Share this page Faraz Bhatti represents Manchester's Whalley Range

A Conservative councillor threatened to kill his new wife and her family during a "sustained" period of abuse, a court has heard.

Faraz Bhatti, who sits on Manchester City Council, is accused of repeatedly attacking Mazamil Bashir, between February and August last year.

He would "push, shove, shake and choke" his wife, prosecutor Michael Murray told Liverpool Crown Court.

Mr Bhatti, of Hawarden Avenue, Whalley Range, denies the charges against him.

Jurors were told mr Bhatti, who was suspended from the Conservatives when the allegations came to light, married his wife – a community race relations officer – on 31 January, 2010.

"Right from the off, the defendant was abusive, threatening, controlling and violent towards his wife," mr Murray said.

He told the jury that on Valentine's Day, mr Bhatti told the alleged victim he was getting flowers for his ex-wife.

An argument ensued, during which the defendant grabbed his wife, swore at her and threatened to kill her if she went to work, the court heard.

On 14 May, mr Bhatti again threatened to kill his wife if she went to work and followed her bus in his car, jurors were told.

The following day he threatened to kill her parents by burning down their house, mr Murray said.

The prosecution also alleges mr Bhatti assaulted his wife on the same day, by grabbing her by the shoulders and pushing her against the kitchen units of the home they shared, causing injuries that were seen by her doctor and by her friend.

Manchester councillor Faraz Bhatti 'threatened wife'

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