JEDDAH: A Pakistani woman was found dead Saturday in Jeddah's Al-Kandarah unplanned district, from a deep slash to the neck. Her assailant has not been identified yet. Police reports stated that it appeared the assailant wanted to decapitate her. Ghulam Qader, the dead woman's maternal uncle, informed the police that an unidentified person had entered his ramshackle house and murdered Najma Mahmood, 30, his sister's daughter. Qader said he had no idea what the motive for the killing could be. Qader said he was shocked when he found his niece lying in a pool of blood in her room Saturday, fully-clothed. Al-Kandarah police have started an investigation, with followup by Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Ghamdi, Director of the Jeddah Police. The Assistant Director of Jeddah Police for Criminal Security inspected the scene of the crime. The victim's house was cordoned off by security patrols. Nobody was allowed into the house until the arrival of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), forensic medicine and investigation teams. Security officers gathered leads and clues at the scene and questioned neighbors and acquaintances. They also interrogated the murdered woman's maternal uncle a second time. The unplanned district is known for its crime rate. It has a dense population of foreign communities and workers and has been a heavy burden for the security authorities. Information received by Okaz/Saudi Gazette indicates that the authorities suspect acquaintances of the murdered woman and her surrounding family, especially since the culprit entered the house normally. This appears to indicate the victim knew her murderer. The police are also conducting a background check on her relationships. The investigations have not revealed any theft at the crime scene. This has led the security authorities to interrogate all the family members and acquaintances. According to available information, the dead woman was an Umrah overstayer. The security men and CID teams found the bloodstained tool used to murder the woman in a corner of the house. The investigation showed that the woman probably suffered considerably after being attacked, and had moved around in the house before collapsing. Blood stains were found in various places. First Lt. Nawaf Al-Bouq, Acting Spokesman of the Jeddah Police, said investigations are under way and important leads have been uncovered. A forensic medical report will be issued determining the cause of death. Investigations are expected to reveal more details in the coming hours, he said.
