A newly-wed in Pakistan has been arrested on murder charges after she allegedly poisoned her husband’s milk, which inadvertently killed 17 others.
As ABC News reports, district police chief Sohail Habib Tajak says 21-year-old Aasia Bibi had been married against her will in September to a relative.
Chief Tajak believes Ms Bibi was unhappy in her marriage and wanted to go back to her parent’s house.
The newly-wed told local reporters: “I repeatedly asked my parents not to marry me against my will as my religion, Islam, also allows me to choose the man of my choice for marriage but my parents rejected all of my pleas and they married me to a relative”.
Ms Bibi says she was able to source a poisonous substance from her boyfriend, which she then used to mix in milk for her husband.
But after her husband refused the drink, the bride’s mother used the spoilt milk to make a traditional yoghurt-based drink. It was then served to 27 family members, who fell unconscious and were hospitalised.
According to USA Today, 17 family members have died while 10 are receiving treatment in hospital.
“This incident took place last week and our officers have made progress by arresting a woman and her lover in connection with this murder case, which was complicated and challenging for us,” Chief Tajak told press.
