Pre-inquest hearing examines lead up to murder of man by 'evil' partner

A pre-inquest review has opened questions into the responsibility of various state agencies towards Mohammed Amin Mukhtar and his killer Charlotte Dootson in the months prior to his death. Dootson strangled Mr Mukhtar to death on August 30 2021 while his hands and feet were bound following an intensifying campaign of abuse and violence which went on for years.

Dootson pleaded guilty to Mr Mukhtar's murder and was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 and a half years, in May 2022. Now, Manchester Coroner's Court is conducting an investigation into the circumstances leading up to Mr Mukhtar's death.

The multi-agency review involves representatives of Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Mental Health, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as well as representatives for Mr Mukhtar's family. Area Coroner Paul Appleton chaired a pre-inquest review at Manchester Coroner's Court on Wednesday, October 23 2024.

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Central to the investigation is a question of the responsibility of local authorities towards vulnerable adults under the Human Rights Act 1998. Article 2 of this, the right to life, means that local authorities must take steps to protect the life of vulnerable adults if their life is in danger.

The circumstances leading up to the tragic death of Mr Mukhtar are already well documented, including Dootson's mental health problems and her use of the drug Spice. One issue which is likely to be central in the inquest is whether Mr Mukhtar's life could be said to have been in danger in the months and years leading up to his death.

This includes examining the level of support which was being offered to Mr Mukhtar and Dootson. Counsel for Manchester City Council Mr Austin Welch told the court: "Mr Mukhtar was considered to have capacity.

"There were questions as to his capacity but he was deemed to have capacity. He wasn't under any degree of control by the state."

He added: "There's a difference between where the state is assisting in the welfare of someone and them having control over their movements." Counsel for Mr Mukhtar's family Ms Lois Norris said: "I don't see that because Mr Mukhtar was deemed to capacity that gets rid of Article 2."

It means that there is a question of whether there were missed opportunities to intervene. This in turn leads to the question of whether any intervention might have resulted in a different outcome.

Mr Mukhtar and Dootson began an on/off relationship in 2017, and Dootson's behaviour towards him quickly became abusive. On the same day Mr Mukhtar was killed Dootson sent an image of him with his hands and feet tied with extension leads and another lead around his neck to a man she had been flirting with by text.

The pair then exchanged sexually explicit texts and images before Dootson sent a message to the man, saying: "I've done something bad, I mean bad bad, I need to run." She then called her father, telling him: "I think I've killed him. I think he's dead, he's not breathing, not moving."

Paramedics attended the flat in Miles Platting where they found Mr Mukhtar unresponsive. The cables had been removed but there were ligature marks around his neck.

The tragedy has had a profound impact on Mr Mukhtar's family. Mr Mukhtar's sister Fozia told of their grief and anger at Dootson's trial.

"There is no punishment that you could ever receive that will ever compare to the pain that you have caused us as a family," Fozia told Dootson. "As a family we want answers.

"I am not sure that we will ever know, but please know that we will never be able to get over what you have done and how you did it. It is just pure evil and callous.

"Amin was a timid guy, he was just so quiet and kind, he wouldn't hurt anyone and he did not deserve what you did to him."

A further pre-inquest review has been scheduled for March 24 2025. A provisional date for the inquest into Mr Mukhtar's death to begin has been put forward for the week of June 9 2025.

The Manchester Evening News has reached out to representatives of Mr Mukhtar's family for comment.