Supporters of jailed Bradford killer Zoora Shah were today boosted by the backing of Keighley MP Ann Cryer.

Mrs Cryer said she was delighted that the jury foreman in the case had come forward - in a highly unusual development - to cast doubt on the safety of her conviction.

Jurors at Leeds Crown Court in December 1993 unanimously declared mother of three Mrs Shah guilty of murdering Mohammed Azam.

They were not told that she suffered sexual and physical abuse over several years, and that she had a history of depression - because Zoora was too ashamed to talk of her sordid life with drug dealer Azam.

Mrs Cryer promised to do all she could to support the campaign to free Zoora from jail, including taking the matter up with Home Secretary Jack Straw.

She said she was doubly determined to help in memory of her late husband, Bob, who would have been Zoora's own MP at the time of the killing.

"If an injustice was done while Bob was her MP, he would have wanted to help, but he had no idea," she said. "When this miscarriage of justice took place, she was living in Lidget Green, in my husband's constituency and he was her MP. Had he known, he would have given her every help.

"If Zoora's solicitor, or Zoora's daughters want to write to me I will do all I can."

Mrs Cryer attended part of Zoora's unsuccessful hearing at the Court of Appeal in March.

"I felt for poor Zoora, she is very much at a disadvantage given her background, being in a male-dominated society where women are not taken much notice of.

"I feel there has been an injustice done to someone who is extremely vulnerable."

The campaign now aims to lobby Home Secretary Jack Straw, to demand he reviews the case and reduces her sentence. More information is available from (01535) 210999.

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