Nadia Younis described the devastating experience of finding her son, Ismail Younis, deceased after he had been missing for three days. Holding her son’s cherished cap, she recounted the moment she received a phone call from Ismail’s workplace, informing her that he had not arrived for work. This call marked the beginning of a harrowing ordeal she will never forget.
Following a desperate search, the family broke into the flat of Imran Uddin, Ismail’s boyfriend, on Richmond Road, Hockley. Inside, they discovered Ismail’s lifeless body, where it had been left to decompose.
Ms Younis shared with Birmingham Crown Court how the initial news that her son was missing caused overwhelming fear, describing the deep maternal instinct that told her something terrible had happened. She said, “My precious son was in danger. That phone call marked the beginning of a nightmare from which I have never truly awoken.”
READ MORE: Government Considers Tougher Penalties for False or Altered Vehicle Number Plates
Ismail, aged 24, had attempted to end his relationship with 33-year-old Uddin, but in a fit of rage, Uddin brutally murdered him on 17 August 2025. He stabbed Ismail in the chest, strangled him, then inflicted a further 12 stab wounds to his body. The judge concluded these acts were meant to exert control even after death.
Ms Younis recalled finding her son’s body and the profound pain it caused. She said, “The moment I found Ismail lying there, cold and still, is a moment burned into my mind. I remember screaming his name and begging him to answer, even though he was right in front of me.”
Ismail, who had autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety, was known for his fondness of a particular cap, which Uddin took from him on cruel occasions. Ms Younis reflected on the profound bond she had with her son, saying that being his mother was her life’s purpose and that his loss left a void that could never be filled.
She described their relationship as more than mother and son; she was his best friend and safe place in a challenging world. “To lose my son and the person I shared an extraordinary bond with has left an emptiness in my life that words can’t truly describe,” she said.
The court also heard that Uddin, who had moved from Milton Keynes to Birmingham in 2017, led a deceptive life, including misrepresenting his profession and personal relationships. After committing the murder, he fled back to Milton Keynes, attempting to carry on as usual.
A jury found Imran Uddin guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years to be served.