From key witness to a convict

Video footage that went viral in social media clearly showed Ayesha Siddika Minni was trying to save her husband Rifat Sharif from the group of young men who killed him.

The incident that took place in Barguna on June 26 last year became one of the most talked-about issues in the media. Twelve youths were accused in the case.

Initially, Minni was the main witness of the case filed by Rifat's father Abdul Halim Dulal Sharif. But police investigation later found proof of her contacting the main accused of the murder case Nayan Bond before and after the killing.

Minni then became one of the accused and yesterday a court gave her the death penalty. The court observed that she was involved in the planning of the murder.

Barguna police was widely criticised in social media after they said they found proof of Minni's involvement.

Barguna police took Minni from her parents' house for quizzing on July 16 last year. After a 10-hour interrogation, police arrested her at 9:00pm.

Minni confessed her guilt before a court two days later. There was no lawyer for Minni that day. The court issued five days' remand and sent her to jail.

Superintendent of Police Maruf Hossain told a press conference the next day that Minni confessed her involvement in the killing.

Later, in the 614-page charge sheet Minni was made the seventh accused out of the 10 adults police found involved in the murder.

Several juveniles also took part in the killing. Separate charges were pressed against them.

She was rejected bail twice last July. Following a writ petition, the High Court on August 29 issued her bail on the condition that she would not talk to the media.

Minni was staying at her parents' house and used to appear in court with her father since then.

Minni, daughter of Mozammel Hossain Kishore got to know Rifat Sharif when she was admitted to Barguna Government College. Rifat was killed just two months after they got married.

During the trial it surfaced that Minni was married to Nayan Bond before she married Rifat. Besides, Nayan was a friend of both Rifat and Minni.

After the verdict was delivered yesterday, Assistant Public Prosecutor Mujibul Haque Kislu said the court specifically mentioned that Minni was directly involved in the planning of the killing. She had contacts with the killers over the phone. The court sentenced her to death as it was proved that Rifat was attacked by the killers led by Nayan Bond, he said.