A MAN was today starting a life sentence after being found guilty of bludgeoning his brother-in-law to death with a pick axe handle.

Mohammed Meherban, 26, of Higher Antley Street, Accrington, murdered Mohammed Azam, 36, in a frenzied attack.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Meherban struck Mr Azam on the head at least 10 times and at least six times on his arms and hands while he was trying to protect himself. He had been attacked in three separate areas of the house.

Judge David Maddison told Meherban: "This was a vicious and prolonged attack. There were not less than 16 blows with a large heavy pick axe handle at three different scenes, two of which you attacked the deceased while he was helpless on the floor.

"You inflicted dreadful injuries that proved to be fatal. For the offence of murder which you have been convicted the law provides only one sentence which is one of life imprisonment." Meherban and Mr Azam, of Bullough Close, Accrington, who were both born in Pakistan, were married to sisters Rubina and Abdha Bibi. Another sister Azrha was married to a brother of Meherban, Mohammed Rafiq, and there were rumours of an affair between Mr Azam and Azrha, the court heard.

Father-of-three Mr Azam was killed at Meherban's home last July.

Meherban claimed that Mr Azam had told him that he was having an affair with his wife Rubina and sister-in-law Azrha. He told the court that Mr Azam said that he and his brother were without any honour and could not sexually satisfy their wives and told him to divorce his wife.

Meherban had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of provocation, but denied murder.

When police were called to his house on July 4 his face was smeared in blood and he was found to have scratch marks on his left forearm which he later admitted were self-inflicted.

He intended to claim Mr Azam had attacked him first and that he had been acting in self-defence and had created a mess in the kitchen to make it look as if there had been a fight.

The court heard that Mr Azam died from severe head injuries caused by blows from the pick axe handle which was found close to his body. His skull was fractured into small pieces with fragments being pushed into the brain. The weapon was heavily bloodstained and had clumps of hair on it.