Rania Alayed’s remains found in North Yorkshire, twelve years after her husband was convicted of her murder in Salford.
Rania was twenty-five. The murder happened back in July 2013. Her husband, Ahmed Al-Khatib, committed the crime at a flat in Gorton, Salford.
Al-Khatib got a life sentence in 2014, but police never found Rania’s body, despite searches. Recently, police found buried remains near the A19 in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, after new information led them there.
Police suspect the remains are Rania’s, although official identification is still pending. Rania’s son, Yazan, spoke about the discovery, calling it a surreal surprise for his family. He said they wanted a final resting place, and laying flowers for his mother means a lot.
Al-Khatib killed Rania in a planned ‘honour killing’ because he thought she was too Westernized and felt she sought an independent life. This information came out during his trial. The judge criticized Al-Khatib’s contempt, stating it matched how he treated Rania when she lived.
Detective Chief Inspector Higginson said they think they found Rania’s body, which he hopes provides closure for her family. He added her murder was horrific, and not finding her body caused more pain. Now, they want to reunite her with family, who deserve to give her a proper resting place.