Monday 4 July 2022 04:18 PM Market stall trader who strangled his wife to death jailed for 18 years trends now
A grocer who strangled his wife to death, then feigned shock by screaming and sobbing when he pretended to discover her body has been jailed for at least 18 years.
Muhammad Ilyas, 41, killed Maria Chavez, 32, at their home in Ilford, East London, while their three children were at school then staged an elaborate cover-up.
He went out to meet relatives to set up an alibi and to give an imagined 'killer' a chance to come into the house and murder his wife.
Mr Ilyas made calls to his wife's mobile after he had murdered her before pretending to find her body on the first floor landing when he returned to the house.
A teenage witness at the scene was convinced Mr Ilyas was lying and her evidence helped an Old Bailey jury convict him of murder.
Muhammed Ilyas, 41, was handed a life sentence and will serve at least 18 years behind bars for murdering his wife
The sister of Maria Chavez, 31, said a 'void' had been left in her life after Maria's murder
Mr Ilyas showed no emotion as he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years.
Judge Nigel Lickley QC told him: 'You killed Maria by compressing her neck forcefully with a ligature.
'Why you did that has not been explained by you. You did not give evidence at your trial and your case was that a stranger entered your home that afternoon and killed your wife.
'That evidence was rejected by the jury.'
Referring to Ms Chavez's family, the judge went on: 'They will suffer the loss of Maria for the rest of their lives. Milestones in their lives will pass and the sharing of important events will lack Maria's presence, support and love.'
The judge added: 'You betrayed her... and for some reason only you know you took her life.
The jury in the trial at the Old Bailey rejected Mr Ilyas's story that he had discovered Maria Chavez's body when he returned to their house in East London. The judge called his actions 'violent and disturbing'
'You murdered a good and kind person.
'Whatever the reason, and there was one, something caused you to react in a very violent and disturbing way.
'You have offered no explanation today [and] offered no regret or remorse.
'You made no effort to save her. You left her where you killed her.'
Prosecutor Julian Evans QC told the jury how Ilyas, who sold fruit and vegetables wholesale, murdered his wife between 1pm and 4pm in their home in Kingston Road, Ilford on May 13, 2021.
Ilyas left the house at 4.30pm then returned some two hours later and went upstairs.
'The defendant then screamed out,' said Mr Evans.
'Ms Chavez was lying on the floor face up, her face was purple in colour.
'The defendant moved her body to the nearby bedroom.
'The defendant telephoned a neighbour
