A convicted murder is reportedly taking ITV to court to sue for £400k worth of damages following the dramatization of his murder case.
It’s said Ari Mahmod, 68, has launched High Court action for libel and defamation whilst serving a life sentence. Should he win the case, he has said that he will spend the money awarded to him when he is released from prison.
Mahmod was jailed in 2007 for the “honour killing” of his niece Banaz, who was aged just 20. Having been brought into an arranged marriage, the relationship became abusive and Banaz walked out.
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Mahmod ordered three of her cousins to kill Banaz. She was horrifically raped and beaten to death during the harrowing ordeal, being buried in a garden in Birmingham, miles away from her family home in Mitcham in South London.
(Image: PA)
Investigations into the murder were launched, with several forces working to find those responsible. Eventually, the men were caught and all four – alongside Banz’s father – were handed life sentences between 2007 and 2010.
A decade later, the horrendous murder was dramatised on ITV in the chilling drama Honour. The show was critically acclaimed, with particular praise being given to Keeley Hawes, who played the police officer who brought Ari and his henchmen to justice.
Now, papers obtained by The Sun, Ari – who is currently housed at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridge, have found that the murderer is suing ITV for £400,000. In the court papers, his case is based on “defamation, libel and slander”.
(Image: PA)
Several of Mahmood’s family continue to remain in witness protection, for fear of being the next victim of his terror. A source who looked at the court documents said it was “astonishing” that he chose to launch the action against the channel.
“It’s astonishing that a man convicted of such a sickening crime can suggest the ITV show blackened his name,” they said. “He plotted, instigated and ordered the appalling sexual torture and rape of his own niece in the name of ‘honour’ and clearly has no reputation left to damage.”
(Image: Publicity Picture)
ITV itself has refused to comment on the ongoing proceedings. However, the channel has instructed the Osborne Clarke law firm in defence of the station, who also declined to give a comment on the legal case.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
