Tanveer Iqbal murder: Family pay emotional tribute to 'wonderful father, a loving son and an amazing brother'

The words of the devastated family of Tanveer Iqbal as three people were found guilty of murdering the Smethwick music shopkeeper, whose body was found in the boot of his own car.

Zatoon Bibi, aged 37, of Bridgeburn Road, Bartley Green and Gul Nawaz, 44, of Roway Lane, Oldbury, were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court today.

Reporting restrictions have been lifted allowing the third defendant, 16-year-old, Kashim Nawaz, to be named. He has also be found guilty.

Following the convictions, Mr Iqbal's family released a heartfelt tribute where they also spoke out about the 'callous and cold-hearted' way he was killed.

They said: "Tanveer was taken away from us in a way which has had a profound effect and changed our lives forever.

"It is indescribable pain to lose a loved one in such a brutal manner. All we can say is that there is no bigger pain in this world than this experience.

"We cannot comprehend how anyone could be so callous and cold-hearted.

"Tanveer was good husband, wonderful father, a loving son and an amazing brother who has been stolen from us in an evil act robbing our lives of the most precious jewel forever.

"Tanveer was the most loved and had a unique attachment to everyone in the family. He was of a good nature and presented exceptional love for his brothers, sisters, parents, nieces and nephews.

"He was always there for his family. He had an exclusive gift of being able to make friendships with anyone he met.

"We have never met anyone who had anything negative to say about him. He never had a bad word to say against anyone either.

"Tanveer's loss was also felt in the entire community, reflected in the huge numbers of people who came to pay their respects at his funeral.

"Our family is proud of the fact that Tanveer had so many friends in the community who respected him and still remember him in their prayers to this day.

"Now that justice has been done today the family and the entire community can have some closure.

"The loss of Tanveer has left a gap in our lives that will never be filled.

"Each passing day, we pray to God and we will continue to pray asking for the strength to be able to carry on with our lives for the sake of our parents and families.

"As a family we wish thank the West Midlands Police's senior investigation officer Mr Paul Joyce and his team.

"We also wish to thank in particular the Family liaison Officers DC Junior Stephens and DC Asam Shazad who have been there for us supporting us throughout this investigation.

"The family would also like to extent this appreciation and gratitude to our legal team, Barrister Sally Howes and Michael Williams for helping us get justice."

Detective Inspector Paul Joyce, of West Midlands Police, speaking after the convictions, added: "This case relied largely on circumstantial evidence which, when combined, painted a compelling picture of what was a chilling and calculated pre-meditated murder.

"The whole thing was thoroughly planned. Bibi messaged Tanveer on the Sunday afternoon to check he was still coming over; she told him she'd got cake to celebrate his birthday.

"But the reality is that she was luring him to his death because just three hours earlier her husband Gul Nawaz was in Poundland buying the murder kit ready to kill him.

"Although we can't say exactly what happened we do know that together – and with the help of another person who we aren't allowed to name – they strangled Tanveer inside Bibi's home.

"They then wrapped his body up in an old box, put him in the boot of his own car and abandoned it on a busy suburban road presumably in the hope that they could get away with their crime."