Baby delivered alive after mother Devi Unmathallegadoo dies in London crossbow attack
- A 50-year-old man known to Devi Unmathallegadoo has been charged with her murder
- The victim’s husband, Imtiaz Muhammad, says his wife was shot in the abdomen in front of their five other children, by a man found hiding in a shed
British police say doctors have delivered a baby boy whose pregnant mother was shot dead with a crossbow at her home in London.
The Metropolitan Police force says 35-year-old Devi Unmathallegadoo was wounded in the abdomen during the attack on Monday. She died in a local hospital, where doctors delivered her son by caesarean section.
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Police arrested 50-year-old Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, who they say was known to the victim, although the nature of the relationship was not disclosed. He appeared in a London court Tuesday charged with murder. The victim’s husband, Imtiaz Muhammad, told the Evening Standard newspaper that she was shot in front of her five other children, aged between 1 and 17.
Muhammad said he found the killer hiding in their shed with a crossbow. He said: “I can’t help thinking she took my arrow. Maybe it should have hit me.”
She was a wonderful mother and wife. We were together seven years. I am heartbroken. We were inseparable
Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo appeared at Barkingside magistrates court on Tuesday and will appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
Devi Unmathallegadoo was informally known as Sana Muhammad, after marrying Imtiaz Muhammad. He told the Evening Standard: “The arrow went up into her heart but did not touch the unborn baby. The baby was due in four weeks. They operated with the arrow still in because it would have been too dangerous to take out.
“She was a wonderful mother and wife. We were together seven years. I am heartbroken. We were inseparable.”
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Neighbour Nisa Khan, who had known Devi Unmathallegadoo for eight years, said: “She was kind and caring and was a wonderful mother. She was a very good, lovely lady. She was a close friend of mine, and we would share our problems with each other and could talk for hours. She did everything for her children – they were her world.”
DCI Gary Holmes, of the Metropolitan police’s homicide and major crime command, said: “This is a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends of the victim.”
