Kashif Anwar accused of pushing pregnant wife Fawziyah Javed off Arthur's Seat stands trial

A man accused of murdering his pregnant wife – and causing the death of their unborn baby – by pushing her off Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh has gone on trial.

Kashif Anwar, 28, allegedly killed Fawziyah Javed, 31, at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh on September 2, 2021.

Following a preliminary hearing on June 30 last year, the trial began at Edinburgh High Court on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

The indictment states that he “pushed her from a height and caused her to fall”.

It says that Ms Javed suffered multiple blunt force trauma injuries, and was so severely injured that she died at the scene.

The allegations go on to state that as a consequence Anwar caused the death of her unborn child.

It is claimed that he had previous malice and ill will towards her.

Anwar is also charged with behaving in a a threatening and abusive manner on the day before Ms Javed’s death, “repeatedly shouting” at her.

Both charges are said to have been aggravated by involving abuse of Anwar’s partner or ex-partner.

Anwar has plead not guilty to the charges.

On Wednesday, the High Court heard in agreed evidence that the couple began a relationship in 2019, and married in December 2020.

A post mortem carried out on the deceased gave her cause of death as complications from multiple injuries and a fall from height.

The court heard that the couple had checked into the Residence Inn for a four-night stay in Edinburgh.

After hearing the charges jurors were read a notice at the start of the trial that the Crown may lead evidence of alleged events that are said to have taken place in England prior to the death.

It was claimed that between April 2020 and August 2021 at addresses in Leeds and elsewhere in England Anwar shouted, swore and made abusive remarks to Ms Javed, prevented her from having contact with family and friends, and controlled and monitored her movements.

It was also said that evidence may be led that on August 26 in 2021 at Owlcotes Road, Pudsey, and at Ash Crescent, both in Leeds, he repeatedly phoned her, shouted and swore at her, uttered threats that he would not allow her to divorce him, stated that he would not divorce her, made a threat that he would not allow her to remarry and threatened her with violence should she contact police.

Notice was also given that the Crown intended to lead evidence that on one occasion between March 11 and 14 in 2021 at a house in Galloway Lane, Leeds, when Anwar put a pillow over his wife’s face, restricting her breathing, and repeatedly punched her on the head.

It was also said that during that same period at a cemetery, in Pudsey, in Leeds, he allegedly made threats of violence towards her parents should she end the relationship with him, seized her by the body, restrained and struggled with her and caused her to fall to the ground and strike her head whereby she was rendered unconscious.

The judge, Lord Beckett, told jurors that the trial was being filmed to make a documentary and added: “It changes absolutely nothing about the trial at all.”

The trial continues.