PHONE VIDEO SPARKED DOUBLE STABBING HORROR

THE mother of an eight-year-old child who was killed in front of her has told how the brutal murder started over a row about a phone.

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

Tragic Malika Al Kattib was stabbed to death by her father Mohammed Al Shaker Al Tamimi in a terrifying attack at the family home in New Ross, Co Wexford, last December.

This month Al Tamimi was jailed for life for the horrendous crime, and received an additional 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of Malika's mother Aisha during the same incident.

Speaking today, Aisha told how the horrifying attack began when her jealous and controlling former partner caught her looking at a video on her phone.

"It started with a phone and me looking at a video of Malika playing with my brother, his daughter and her friend," she said.

"As I was on the phone, he turned and locked eyes with me. I calmly informed him that I was heading to my mums, but when I went to grab the car key, he charged at me with a knife.

"I asked him what he was doing and let out a nervous laugh. He then stabbed me in the neck, barely missing my jugular vein by a hair's breadth.

"He tried to slash across my neck, but I managed to grab the knife and pull it out. He then launched another attack, targeting my jaw, face, and neck."

STAIRS

Tragic Malika, who heard the commotion from her bedroom, came down the stairs to try and defend her mother, which is when Al Tamimi grabbed her and cut her throat in front of her own mother - smiling at Aisha as he did so.

Asked about why she felt the monster broke in that moment and attacked them, Aisha said she believes it is because he believed he had lost control.

"I had said I'm going to my mother and he saw the look in my eyes like when I left him in the UK before. He knew he had no control on me," she said.

"He lost control of me because his behaviour disgusted me and he could see the disgusted look in my eyes."