Mohammed Azim, a 41-year-old recovery truck driver, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of his girlfriend, Lily Whitehouse, 19. Azim used his Mercedes Sprinter truck to crush her against a lamppost in Old Park Lane, Oldbury, on November 5 last year, his 41st birthday.
Murder after hospital visit
The incident occurred shortly after Ms Whitehouse had visited her premature baby, fathered by another man, in a neonatal intensive care unit. Jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court took six hours to find Azim guilty by a majority of 10 to two after a two-week trial.
Sentencing on Monday, Judge Mr Justice Murray stated: “Your decision to kill Lily was spontaneous, but you would have been aware she had a five-week-old baby still in hospital. The baby has lost her mother forever at the very beginning of her life.” He added that Ms Whitehouse was “psychologically vulnerable” due to her troubled background and was “very needy and dependent” on Azim.
Intent and relationship dynamics
The judge noted that Azim’s intention was to cause serious harm rather than kill, saying: “I cannot be sure you formed an intention to kill Lily when you hit her with your truck. I sentence on a basis that your intention was to cause her really serious harm.” Messages between the couple showed Ms Whitehouse was “strongly attached” to Azim, who was “at times aggressive” despite being “supportive and kind” largely to maintain a sexual relationship. The judge remarked: “It is clear the relationship was very much on your terms, which is not surprising given you were a much older man with more life experience.”
Crime scene and lies
CCTV from a nearby school captured audio of Azim’s truck idling for about 16 minutes before the truck comes into view and Ms Whitehouse is seen walking quickly along the driver’s side. The van then forcefully pushes her before a loud bang is heard, which the prosecution said was the truck striking the lamppost. After crushing her, Azim picked her up, placed her in his truck, and dialed 999, claiming she had been hit by another vehicle that fled. He stopped in Park Street and put her on the pavement before emergency services arrived. Police found his story “strange” and arrested him on suspicion of murder.
In his trial, Azim admitted lying about the hit-and-run because he panicked, claiming he hit her accidentally while trying to leave after dropping her off. He said Ms Whitehouse pleaded to go to his house, but he refused because he was tired and had work early.
Victim impact statements
Ms Whitehouse’s cousin Katie told the court their world “collapsed” upon learning of her death. She said: “Lily died in tragic and horrific circumstances. We find ourselves asking questions that can never be answered – what were her last thoughts and words when her killer crushed her with his truck? These thoughts haunt us daily.” Her aunt Melissa Wheeler added: “You were meant to love her, but you killed her. I hope you spend the rest of your life knowing what you did to Lily.”
Defence and background
Imran Shafi KC, Azim’s barrister, accepted the “devastating loss of a young life” but argued the offence was “spontaneous” with intent formed “seconds before” the act. He noted the van was driven at low speed and Azim immediately sought help. Azim, who came to the UK from Pakistan in 2001, has previous convictions for cannabis possession, tobacco duty evasion, and battery in 2012. The judge ordered that 227 days spent on remand be deducted from the minimum term.
