Old Bailey: 'Ma'er Hotya' - Son Remanded in Custody in Heart-Wrenching Murder Case

Layek Miah, 27, of Malmesbury Road, Tower Hamlets, appeared before the Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey, on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025. He stands charged with the murder of his mother, a woman who was nearly 50 years old, in a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, particularly within the British-Bangladeshi diaspora. This appearance marked his first hearing at the higher court, where he was formally charged following the grim discovery of her body last Thursday, June 26th, at an address on Monier Road, Bow.

During the brief hearing at the Old Bailey, Miah was remanded in custody. Further details regarding future court proceedings, such as a plea hearing or a provisional trial date, were not immediately released, but the case is expected to return to the Old Bailey in the coming weeks for further directions. Defence counsel was present, and the court will ensure due legal process is followed as the investigation continues.

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Metropolitan Police officers were initially called to the residential address on Monier Road at approximately 11:01 PM on Thursday, June 26th, following reports of a stabbing. Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service, responded swiftly. A woman, identified as Miah's mother and in her late 40s (approaching 50), was found at the scene suffering from stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, she was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

Layek Miah was arrested the following day, Friday, June 27th, on suspicion of murder. He was subsequently charged with the murder and appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Saturday, June 28th, where he was remanded into custody, paving the way for his Old Bailey appearance.

Community sources indicate that the deceased mother had five daughters, and Layek Miah was her only son. The British-Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets and beyond has been stunned by the gruesome nature of the incident, particularly the alleged act of a son murdering his mother in her own bedroom. It's reported that the accused son did not reside at the Monier Road address.

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A key aspect of the ongoing police investigation will be to ascertain whether the weapon used in the murder, a knife, was brought by the alleged assailant from an outside location or if a knife from the victim's kitchen was used. Furthermore, authorities will be working to determine if the incident was premeditated, particularly considering reports that no one else was home at the time of the alleged murder, with the father reportedly at the mosque, or if the killing occurred spontaneously during an argument. The deceased housewife's home community is in Sunamganj, Sylhet.

Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who leads policing in Tower Hamlets, has sought to reassure the public, stating, "I understand the local community will feel understandably shocked by this news, but I want to reassure residents we believe this to be an isolated incident, with no wider threat to the public." He emphasized that despite significant progress with the arrest and charge, the investigation is ongoing, with specialist officers "working at pace to make enquiries and understand exactly what took place."

The victim's next of kin have been formally notified and are currently receiving support from specially trained officers. A police presence has been maintained in the Monier Road area since the incident to facilitate ongoing investigative work and to provide reassurance to local residents. Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury has reportedly been among those offering support to the affected community members during this difficult time.He also said to Daily Dazzling Dawn,Discussion is ongoing within the community about whether the son who murdered his mother is mentally sound, and if it's possible for a mentally healthy child to commit such an act. Police have informed us that there is a lot of information behind this incident, but not everything is for public disclosure

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Read the First Article: Bangladeshi Mother Killed by Son in East London

Authorities are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist their investigation. Members of the public are urged to contact the police by calling 101 and quoting reference CAD9509/26JUN. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their online form.