The HQ of the Metropolitan Police (KIrsty O’Connor/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)A man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for murdering his wife in Ilford east London.
Muhammad Ilyas, 41, of Kingston Road, murdered his wife, Maria Rafael Chavez, on May 13, 2021.
Officers attended the scene at the time but his 32-year-old wife was soon pronounced dead.
Initially, there were no clear signs that Ms Chavez had suffered obvious injuries but following a specialist post-mortem, it was discovered that she had suffered compression to her neck due to strangulation.
Homicide detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command carried out further enquiries, which included collecting CCTV evidence and speaking to neighbours.
Due to this, it was established that Ilyas killed his wife which then led to his arrest.
He initially denied any wrongdoing but following the post-mortem, a pathlogy report and CCTV footage, his claim was disproved.
He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on July 1.
The couple had moved the UK in 2019 and Maria was attending a college course to learn English at the time of her death. Ilyas was working on a market stall in Stratford.
