Man convicted of murdering his wife after detectives download vital video call

A man has been convicted of murdering his wife after the Met’s homicide detectives proved he killed her and tried to cover up the crime.

Aminan Rahman, 46 (10.11.77) of Bridgewater, Somerset was found guilty of the murder of 24-year-old Suma Begum on Wednesday, 3 July, after a month-long trial at the Old Bailey.

Videos saved by the man who is believed to have been in the relationship with Suma, who lived in the United Arab Emirates, showed Rahman threatening to kill his wife and then putting his hands around her throat.

The video cut off after he heard “screaming sounds". Rahman then called back and told him he had killed his wife and showed her unconscious on the floor.

Rahman then put his wife's body into a suitcase which he threw into a nearby river.

Police were called the next day after Suma’s friends and family members became concerned for her welfare.

Rahman was arrested on 2 May 2023 and claimed he did not know where she was or what had happened to her. He was then charged with murder on 4 May 2023.

Suma's body was found in the suitcase on 10 May 2023 by a member of the public on a river bank in Thamesmead.

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, the lead investigator in the case, said: "This case demonstrates that Met detectives will do everything possible to build as strong a case as possible against those who perpetrate acts of domestic violence.

"Once Aminan Rahman was swiftly identified as the prime suspect, my team of homicide detectives analysed hundreds of hours of CCTV to trace his movements before and after the murder.

"We also managed to retrieve and download the full video call that Rahman made to Suma's believed boyfriend. This further proved he killed her in a jealous rage.

"This has been a challenging case and Suma’s family and friends have had to endure a trial in which they heard graphic details of how her body was hidden by her husband.”

Rahman was also convicted of assaulting Suma on 6 February 2023. She had made a video in which she said Rahman had almost killed her by putting his hands around her neck.

Rahman is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 31 July.

+ As part of our A New Met for London we are reprioritising how we protect the public from harm and transforming how we safeguard the vulnerable.

The reduction and prevention of violence against women and girls is a key strategic priority and we are delivering a revised VAWG action plan, committing the entire Met to tackling sex offenders, combatting violence against women, improving women and girls’ safety, and rebuilding trust.