Amir Khan, a 25-year-old Pakistani national, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison with an additional six years on licence after being convicted of attempting to murder his wife, Madia Bano, in Birmingham. Khan’s brutal attack left Bano with severe brain injuries, leaving her in a coma and dependent on medical intervention for survival.
Khan, who initially entered the UK illegally concealed in the back of a lorry, first came to the attention of immigration authorities in 2017 as a teenager. Despite having his asylum claim rejected, he was granted temporary leave to remain on family and private life grounds until March 2024.
The violent incident took place on November 1 last year at their home on Villa Road, Lozells, where Khan stabbed Bano in the head with a screwdriver or a similar object. Khan has never admitted to the attack, refusing to testify at trial and providing inconsistent accounts of how he supposedly discovered his wife injured.
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Since the assault, Madia Bano has suffered permanent brain damage and is diagnosed with Locked-In Plus Syndrome, a condition that renders her unconscious and unable to communicate. Medical experts warn that without continued medical support, she would not survive. Judge Dean Kershaw described her injuries as “as close to death as can possibly be.”
During sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, the judge criticized Khan for his lack of remorse and dishonest explanations, emphasizing the gravity of the harm caused. Judge Kershaw chose a lengthy prison term over a life sentence but stressed that Khan must not be released unless it is absolutely safe to do so.
The ruling marks a severe reprimand for Khan’s cold, callous actions and reflects the court’s commitment to protecting vulnerable victims and ensuring justice for serious violent crimes.