Tariq Khan
Tariq Khan, 27, was jailed for life for the murder of his 24-year-old wife, Nadia. Handout

A man who knifed to death his heavily pregnant wife, killing their unborn son, has been jailed for life. Tariq Khan, 27, will serve a minimum of 24 years behind bars.

Kahn was undergoing deportation proceedings at the time of the murders after assaulting his wife Nadia, 24. In June 2015 he stabbed her 16 times in the chest, back and abdomen at their home in Manningham, Bradford, after using a teenage relative to gain access to the house.

Sentencing him on charges of murder and child destruction, Judge Roger Thomas at Bradford Crown Court said he would serve a minimum of 24 years behind bars before the Parole Board can consider him eligible for release. Prosecutor Peter Moulson QC said that Khan deliberately intended to kill the 31-week old unborn child.

In a statement, Nadia Khan's family said her death had profoundly affected them: "Nadia was a caring daughter and sister as well as a loving mother, and it kills us that her children will grow up without a mum and dad. Tariq Khan has caused us a lot of pain and we hope he stays in jail for the rest of his life, as his sentence can never be enough for what he has done."

Detective Chief Inspector Mark McManus of West Yorkshire Police said: "Khan was clearly a very dangerous man and the community of Manningham is a safer place with him behind bars."

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