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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
John Hand

Seema Banu's nephew 'couldn't bear' harrowing inquest details as he brands her evil husband as a 'coward'

MURDER victim Seema Banu's nephew has told how he was unable to listen to the details of how her evil husband strangled her and their children to death, saying: "I just couldn't bear it."

Kashief Ahmed and his cousin Suhan Syed were assisted by the gardai to travel to Dublin for last week's inquest into the deaths of Seema, 37, her children Asfira, 11, and six-year-old Faizan in October 2020.

Dublin District Coroner's Court saw footage of crazed husband and father Sameer Syed boarding a Dublin Bus disguised as a woman.

He travelled to the house at Llewellyn Court, Rathfarnham, South Dublin to kill his wife and children.

READ MORE: 'We lost three gems' - Nephews of murder victims Seema Banu and her kids visit grave ahead of inquests

It heard how he "tortured" his wife in countless beatings after they moved to Ireland in December 2018.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, Kashief told us: "The two days were horrible and I just couldn't bear it.

Seema Banu's nephews Kashief Ahmed and Syed Suhan (Daily Mirror..)

"So I avoided listening to parts. I couldn't talk. It was shocking to see all of the evidence."

Kashief explained that although it was difficult to hear the circumstances surrounding the deaths, it clarified how it happened for them.

Sameer, who took his own life in Midlands Prison last year as he was about to stand trial, had admitted to the murder of his wife but denied killing the children.

But the jury established that the family all died by an "unlawful killing".

Kashief explained: "We got to know about how they died. So Seema died before and then the children. So we got to see the evidence too. It was really important for us."

He added: "Sameer was a coward and took the easy way out."

Sameer, who was living separately from his wife and kids as he was on bail for a vicious assault on her, disposed of the women's clothes he had disguised himself in following the killing.

The killer tried to cover his tracks by leaving his mobile phone plugged in and connected to the Wi-Fi at his address in Rathmines at 8pm on October 22, 2020, the night of the deaths. It remained so until the next day.

Their bodies lay there until the discovery on October 28.

Kashief told us: "It was the evil nature of him. Even planning the escape and involving victims in it."

Kashief appeared as a witness in day one of the two-day inquest, telling how Seema would ring home to India in tears after she was on the end of a severe beating.

Nephews of murder victim Seema Banu at grave in Newcastle Cemetery last week (Colin Keegan)

But he was glad to get his family's voice heard.

Kashief said: "It was my tribute for her and I am happy I could give maybe not justice, but some peace for our family."

Kashief, who left for India yesterday, had phoned to tell family of some of the evidence, but he told us: "I called home but I haven't told them everything. I am going home now and I have to tell them everything.

"But they know it was an unlawful killing."

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