ISLAMABAD: The prosecution in the Noor Mukadam murder case on Tuesday submitted the transcript of CCTV footage showing events that preceded the woman's murder at an Islamabad house in July, local media reported, saying the victim had jumped from the first floor of the chief accused’s house but was prevented by staff from leaving the premises.
Mukadam, 27, was found beheaded at Zahir Jaffer's house in Islamabad’s upscale F-7/4 neighborhood on July 20. The trial for her murder is one of the most closely watched in Pakistan's recent history, as the case has sparked public outrage and grabbed media attention unlike any other recent crime against women. Jaffer was arrested from the crime scene on the day of the murder and has been in custody since.
He was indicted last month. Others charged in the case include Jaffer's parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Adamjee, their three household staff, Iftikhar, Jan Muhammad and Jameel, and six workers from Therapy Works, a counselling centre from where Jaffer had received certification to become a therapist and where he had been receiving treatment in the weeks leading up to the murder.
The trial in the case began last month.
“According to the transcript, submitted in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani today, the time of the digital video recorder was 35 minutes ahead of the Pakistan standard time,” Dawn reported, outlining the transcript of the CCTV footage.
As per the newspaper report, Noor could be seen entering Jaffer’s home while speaking on her phone on July 18 at 10:18pm. At 2:39am on July 19, the two are seen coming out of the house carrying bags which they placed in a taxi parked outside. They both then went back inside.
At 2:41am, Noor came running barefooted towards the gate but a guard closed the gate to prevent her from leaving. Zahir was then seen coming out of the house, grabbing Noor, and forcing her back into inside while she begged and pleaded.
“Sometime later at 2:46am, according to the transcript, the pair were once again seen exiting the house and approaching the gate. This time, they sat in the taxi across the street with their baggage and could be seen departing in the car,” Dawn said. “They return just minutes later at 2:52am and go back inside the house with their bags while Iftikhar and a black dog could also be seen in the yard.”
On July 20 at 7:12pm, according to Dawn, Noor could be seen jumping from the first floor of Jaffer's house with a cell phone in her hand. She fell onto a grill beside a ground floor gallery.
“She then staggered towards the main gate and wanted to go out but Iftikhar and the gardener could be seen closing the door to stop her,” the newspaper reported. “Zahir jumped from the first floor as well, ran towards Noor and then trapped her in a cabin beside the gate. He snatched Noor's mobile phone from her and dragged her back inside the house."
