A burglar has admitted having sex with a corpse after lifting the lids of ‘multiple coffins’ at a funeral parlour. Kasim Khuram, 23, admitted forcing open the door of the building at 3am on November 11 then sexually penetrating the body at the Central England Co-operative Funeralcare in Great Barr, Birmingham.
CPS Spokesman Baljinder Kaur said: ‘This is an unusual case and it is difficult to imagine a more distressing violation of a loved one. On the strength of the case built by the police and CPS the defendant ultimately pleaded guilty and will now have to face the consequences.
‘Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased
A judge adjourned Khuram’s sentencing for a psychiatric report until January 31, but warned the defendant he was facing a ‘substantial’ jail term. Khuram, who appeared in custody in Birmingham Crown Court flanked by a security officer, touched his chest and gave the thumbs-up to supporters in the public gallery during a 10-minute hearing.
He also admitted burglary of the funeral home, breaking into the building with the intention of stealing. Wearing a black hooded top and trousers and sporting a Palestinian flag tattoo on the left side of his neck, he stood with hands clutched in front of him as the charges were read.
Relatives of the deceased were in court during the hearing. The offence Khuram admitted said:
‘You intended an act of penetration by a part of a body, by a part of your body. ‘The penetration being sexual and knowing or being reckless as to knowing that is what was being penetrated.’
The court heard he was briefly sectioned under mental health laws on arrest, after officers alerted by the parlour’s alarm turned up to find him still at the scene. Judge Francis Laird QC said: ‘I will adjourn your sentence to the date that has been raised in court.
‘I will allow your solicitors the appropriate time to present to the court a medical report which your solicitor thinks will assist in delivering the appropriate sentence for you.
‘But you must be under no illusion that you will receive a sentence of imprisonment for your offending in this case – a substantial sentence of imprisonment.’
A Central England Co-operative spokesman said: ‘Our primary concern is for the families we serve and the welfare of our funeral colleagues who have all been deeply affected by this incredibly disturbing and unprecedented event.
‘The security measures at Great Barr are such that the alarm alerted the police, who were thankfully able to apprehend the suspect at the scene.
‘We would like to thank the West Midlands Police for their care and assistance and we will work to support them in any way possible.
‘We will not be making any further comment until the conclusion of this case.’
