Burnley handyman admits murdering doctor and teenage daughter

A handyman has admitted murdering a doctor and her daughter whose bodies were discovered in their fire-damaged home in Burnley.

Shahbaz Khan, 51, had been on trial for the killings of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi, 49, and Vian Mangrio, 14.

Last week, he had denied the charges of murder and told the jury at Preston Crown Court that another person killed them and left their home on September 30.

However, Khan, of Ribble Avenue in Burnley, changed his pleas to guilty earlier. He also admitted a third count of arson.

His wife, Rabia Shahbaz, 45, will remain on trial, as she denies doing an act intended to pervert the course of public justice, and giving a false alibi for Khan.

BBC reports that it was likely jurors would start their deliberations on Thursday (1).

Prosecutor David McLachlan QC had previously told jurors that Khan, a native of Pakistan, strangled Dr Sacharvi and then attacked her daughter when she returned from school.

The court heard he set fires at the property, including the severe burning of Mangrio in the lounge, an attempt to set Dr Sacharvi alight in the upstairs front bedroom and another blaze in the kitchen.

Supernatural spirits

While giving evidence to the court, the married father-of-four told court that when working as a handyman at the house on September 30, he had to intervene to break up a fight between the mother and daughter.

He added of not knowing what was the row about when he entered the house stopping his work and also saw writings on the wall: “Covid 19 house my mum is evil”, “Covid home” and “Help me”.

He said Dr Sacharvi told him her daughter was responsible for the writing, the court heard. Days earlier Mangrio along with her mother were self-isolating and were awaiting the test reports, which later came as negative.

Khan, also told court of feeling the presence of jinns (supernatural spirit) in the house.

He said he had discussed the jinns with Dr Sarcharvi, and also his mental health issues.

The court has heard police found jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds belonging to Dr Sacharvi in a loft at the home of Khan which they searched after he was arrested days later.

In response, Khan told the jury he was looking after the jewellery at the doctor’s request for “security purposes” and had done so earlier when she was away on holiday.