A man who suffocated his wife and drowned his two children has been sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of 31 years in jail.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Sami Salem, 30, killed his wife Areena, also 30, his daughter Shadia, 7, and his son Rami, 4, on Tuesday 30 May 2017 at the family home in Flat 1 in 36 Falkner Street, Liverpool.
A pathologist’s report said that Areena had been suffocated, Rami had been drowned and Shadia, had been suffocated and was also likely to have been drowned.
The killings came to light when a heating engineer was called to the house because neighbours said they could smell petrol and gas.
The engineer couldn’t get an answer at the address so relatives that lived nearby were called and they got into the flat. There was a strong smell of petrol and gas.
In Sami’s bedroom they found Sami’s wife Areena Saeed lying on the right hand side of the bed, Shadia next to her and Rami next to Shadia. They were said to look like they were asleep. Sadly, they were already dead.
A family member saw Sami and tried to get him out of the flat because of the overwhelming smell of petrol and gas but he collapsed on the floor. They eventually got him out and the police and the paramedics were called. When Sami was later questioned by police he refused to make any comment.
Sami and Areena had an arranged marriage in Yemen in 2009. Sami initially travelled to Yemen from the UK as Areena didn’t have a visa. She eventually got a visa in 2015 and moved here with the two children, hoping to give them a better start in life.
At sentencing today (20 4 2018) the judge, The Honourable Mr Justice Holgate, said Salem became controlling and possessive. He had tried to control Areena’s movements, her use of the internet and her mobile phone and this had affected her ability to contact her family in Yemen.
The court had heard that Areena had spoken to some people about feeling isolated and unhappy because she couldn’t speak English and because Sami tried to control what she did.
The jury at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday returned a verdict of murder on all three counts against Salem. Hewas sentenced today to 31 years in jail.
David Jones, Senior Crown Prosecutor with MerseyCheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said “This is a terribly sad case. Mr Salem murdered his wife and two small children. Yet exactly what drove him to commit the killings remains unclear.
“Police officers at the scene at the time of the tragedy said he appeared to show no remorse at all about what had happened.
“He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but the Crown Prosecution Service refused to accept this and proceeded to a trial on a murder charge. The jury agreed with this and found him guilty.
Sami had a history of mental illness but this did not explain smothering his wife and an drowning his children. The scene in the flat on that day must have been truly awful.
“The Crown Prosecution Service would like to offer condolences to the wider family of Areena and her children and hope they find some consolation in the conclusion of this tragic case and the long sentence the Mr Salem has been given.”