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'Demonic' killer stabbed ex-partner to death in her home after they split up

Abid Mahmood, 35, killed former partner Tamby Dowling, 36, in a 'planned and 'premeditated' attack in her own home in Oldham. (Reach)
Abid Mahmood, 35, killed former partner Tamby Dowling, 36, in a 'planned and 'premeditated' attack in her own home in Oldham. (Reach)

A 'demonic' killer has been jailed for life after stabbing his former partner to death in her own home after they split up.

Abid Mahmood, 35, killed 36-year-old Tamby Dowling after stabbing her eight times in a 'planned and premeditated' attack in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Manchester Crown Court heard he arrived at her house in a taxi before bursting through the front door, punching her then stabbing her. The couple had split up months earlier, the court heard.

Mahmood burst through Dowling's front door, punching her then knifing her eight times. (Reach)
Mahmood burst through Dowling's front door and stabbed her eight times. (Reach)

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On the night of the murder on 8 November last year, he had called Dowling 17 times before taking a taxi to her home armed with a knife.

About two-and-a-half minutes later he got back into the waiting taxi, telling the driver: "I can hear screaming in my head, pray for me brother," Mahmood told the taxi driver after getting back in the car.

Later that evening he handed himself into police and gave officers the knife he used to kill Dowling.

Mahmood, who was described as looking 'demonic' at the time of the attack, has suffered "extensive" mental health problems since his teenage years and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Mahmood had a history of mental health issues and had asked to be sectioned in the weeks running up to the attack. (Reach)
Mahmood had a history of mental health issues and had asked to be sectioned in the weeks running up to the attack. (Reach)

In the weeks before to the killing, he had reported suffering from mental health problems and had asked to be sectioned.

The 35-year-old is now undergoing treatment at a secure unit at Prestwich hospital, where he will stay until he can be moved to prison.

Judge Alan Conrad QC told Mahmood: "I am satisfied that so grave is this case, and such is the risk that you pose, that the only sentence here can be one of imprisonment for life."

He ordered Mahmood to serve at least 10 years behind bars before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.

Mahmood's barrister Frida Hussain QC said he had no recollection of the attack and was crushed by the "devastation" he had caused.

She said he had "begged to be taken seriously" in the weeks prior to the murder but had not received adequate support from the authorities.

Prosecutors claimed there had been incidents previously when Mahmood had been "aggressive and unreasonable" towards Dowling.

Tamby Dowling was described as
Tamby Dowling was described as "generous" and "loving" by friends and family. (Reach)

Judge Conrad added that he was satisfied the killing was a "planned and premeditated attack" in which Mahmood, who had wrongly believed his ex was in relationships with various people close to him, had intended to kill Dowling.

Psychiatrists agreed that Mahmood's mental health problems diminished his responsibility. But the judge added that he had acted in a "manipulative' and 'bullying' manner including while in hospital.

Paying tribute to Dowling, her sister Stacey Hawley said: "My sister was a loving, kind and caring person, and would do anything for her friends.

"To hear my father howling and crying, while my mother said Tamby is gone, is something I won't get out of my head."