Birmingham, UK – A 49-year-old Birmingham man has been found guilty of attempted murder after brutally attacking his wife with hot oil during a domestic dispute in January.

Raju Mollah was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court following a trial for the violent assault on his wife, Mosammed Mumtaz, at their Small Heath home on January 12. The attack occurred during an ongoing dispute over the sale of property owned by Mrs. Mumtaz.

The Attack

According to court testimony, the incident began when Mollah asked his wife to prepare an omelette. Mrs. Mumtaz became concerned when she noticed her husband had placed an unusual amount of oil in the cooking pan.

Mollah then poured the hot oil over his wife’s head before placing heated cooker hob racks on her chest and face. He continued the assault by stamping on her while she lay on the floor.

Emergency services responded to a 999 call at 7:22 PM, finding Mrs. Mumtaz on the kitchen floor surrounded by oil and blood. Paramedics reported that heat was still radiating from the oil covering the floor when they arrived.

Victim’s Injuries

Mrs. Mumtaz sustained severe injuries including:

• Multiple facial injuries and burns
• Loss of a tooth
• Burns to arms and face with skin peeling
• Other significant trauma requiring hospitalization

Upon being placed in an ambulance, Mrs. Mumtaz told paramedics: “My husband tried to kill me” and described how he had thrown oil over her.

Court Proceedings

The prosecution, led by Frida Hussain KC, argued that Mollah’s actions constituted attempted murder, going beyond the grievous bodily harm charge he had admitted to.

Mollah’s defense claimed the incident was accidental, alleging that Mrs. Mumtaz had approached him with a knife during an argument about divorce. He testified through a Bengali interpreter that while he accepted causing serious harm, he never intended to kill his wife.

“I loved her for 24 years,” Mollah said while sobbing in the dock. He claimed he was “out of my mind” during the attack and that his wife had been demanding a divorce.

Background

The couple had been married for 23 years and have three children together. Court testimony revealed ongoing disputes over the sale of property owned by Mrs. Mumtaz, with Mollah allegedly wanting to sell at below market value.

Mrs. Mumtaz had recently returned early from Bangladesh due to their marital difficulties.

Police Statement

Following the guilty verdict, West Midlands Police investigating officers Rebecca Pugh and George Kawalek issued a statement:

“This was a vicious attack, where he clearly tried to kill his wife. The victim has been very brave having sustained significant and life-changing injuries and thankfully Mollah will be spending a good amount of time behind bars.”

Sentencing

Mollah is scheduled to be sentenced in November. The attempted murder conviction carries a potential life sentence under UK law.

This case highlights the serious nature of domestic violence and the resources available through local support services for victims of domestic abuse.