Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Husband on trial for killing pregnant ex-wife with a crossbow

A heavily pregnant woman was shot dead with an arrow allegedly by her jealous ex-husband in a "deliberate and calculated act of revenge" last November at her east London home, a court was told.

According to prosecutors, 51-year-old Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, armed with two crossbows, burst out of the garden shed at a suburban home in Ilford area of east London, and shot arrows at his ex-wife Devi Unmathallegadoo as she tried to flee upstairs.


The 35-year-old Devi, also known as Sana Muhammad after she converted to Islam to marry Imtiaz Muhammad, died of internal injuries after the attack.

The arranged marriage of Devi and Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo ended in divorce in 2014, after which the woman went on to marry Imtiaz.

She had three children, aged 18, 14 and 12, with Ramanodge and two young girls, aged five and two, with Muhammad. Her unborn baby was later rescued by doctors in an emergency Caesarean operation following the attack.

Ramanodge, who had been arrested and charged soon after the attack, denies the murder and attempted destruction of the unborn child as his trial got underway at the Old Bailey court in London this week.

"This was a quite deliberate and calculated act of revenge on his part intended to cause at the very least the death of Devi and the extinction of the child she carried," Prosecutor Peter Wright told the jury on Tuesday.

At the time of the attack in November last year, neighbours heard Imtiaz screaming for help outside the house and described seeing a 30-cm-long crossbow being carried out of the home by police officers as evidence.

It emerged in court that the accused had gathered a cache of weapons and tools in preparation for the attack, including two new crossbows, bolts, a hammer, a knife in a homemade sheath, cable ties and duct tape.

The prosecution claims that Ramanodge, a former hospital site manager, planned to restrain his ex-wife and her husband and then kill them and their unborn child.

However, he was disturbed when Imtiaz took a box to store in the shed and discovered his hiding spot which ended in him running into the house, the jury was told.

"Imtiaz saw the defendant, who was at the bottom of the stairs, shoot Devi who was halfway up the stairs. The effect on her was immediate and she fell to the floor, said Wright.

The court heard that after the attacker was restrained and disarmed by two of his older children, he told them: "It would have been easier if you guys weren't here, like I would have done it."

Ramanodge later claimed he had shot his former wife by accident and had intended to kill only Imtiaz. However, the prosecution claims that the evidence will show that that his ex-wife was the "principal target".

The trial is ongoing and expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

More For You

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less