Man Alleged to have Burned Wife in Allotment

Accused of murder at Summerwood Road home

A man is standing trial accused of murdering his wife in their Isleworth flat and burning her body in an allotment.

The prosecution is alleging that Reza Ali Sharifzadah, aged 37, killed his wife, Marzuka Taran, at their Summerwood Road home on November 23rd of last year.

That same day a neighbour reported seeing Mr. Sharifzadah pushing a shopping trolley away from the flat with wood stacked above a bundle. He was later seen by a witness at the Cole Park allotments on Twickenham Road burning a pile of material.

Members of the family had become concerned and a group of relatives came to the flat and found evidence of a struggle with blood stains on the walls and a strong smell of disinfectant. Sharifzada returned at that point. He had a cut on his cheek and was wearing wellington boots covered in mud. He claimed that his wife had gone out to buy a scarf. He was then observed going into the bathroom of the flat and cleaning the floor by hand for more than an hour.

Forensic tests matched the mud on the boots to that at the allotment and human remains found there were found to be a partial DNA match for Mrs. Taran. A chain belonging to her was also recovered from the allotments and traces of her blood were discovered at the flat.

Mr. Sharifzadah denies murder and the trial continues.

September 27, 2006