A DARWEN man tried to murder his daughter after she married against his wishes, it has been claimed.

Preston Crown Court heard allegations that Shaukat Ali attempted to strangle the 21-year-old after arranging to meet for a chat.

He is said to have been found on top of his daughter Sehrish Schail, with both hands around her throat and wearing washing-up-type gloves.

The defendant, 48, of South Street, Darwen, denies a charge of attempted murder on March 21 this year.

The court was also told that in his culture for a daughter to live away from her parents and to marry someone of her own choice would bring shame on the family.

Mr David Pickup, prosecuting, said the daughter had changed her name by deed poll in December of last year. She had gone to Manchester Metropolitan University to study molecular biology. For the second and third years she lived at home and commuted daily. By late 1998 she was studying hard and getting home rather late. She moved into accommodation near the university. Her father put her under pressure to return home, said the prosecution.

There had been discussions about an arranged marriage. In March 1999 she told her father she would not marry either of the chosen ones named for her. She had become interested in a nephew of a family friend in Pakistan. After the father was eventually told she wanted to marry him the defendant did not appear upset. Later on the defendant and his wife were said to have punched and kicked her. The young woman was kept in the family home against her will for two days. On June 3 she shouted for help from a window and the police were called. She later arranged to stay at the home of a family friend, Mohammed Nadim, in Railway Street, Darwen. Her family began to hassle her to return home, said Mr Pickup.

Afterwards arguments would occur when she visited her father about her intention to marry. Several times her father allegedly threatened to kill her and her future husband if she married.

Sehrish went on to buy a house in St James Road and marry in Pakistan. The couple came back to the country around March 16 and lived together at a Railway Street address, as their home needed decorating. She did not tell her father she had married.

On Tuesday, March 21, she agreed to see him at St James Road and would go there with Mr Nadim.

The man waited outside and initially Ali appeared pleasant, asking about the house. Then he attacked her in a bedroom.

Mr Pickup said: "He grabbed her by the neck and hair and pulled her into a room. He was enraged. As she began to scream he put his hand over her mouth. He threw her to the floor, put both hands around her neck and began to strangle her. Words were said to the effect 'This is the end' or 'This is your end.' As far as she knew she passed out."

Mr Nadim ran inside on hearing a scream and found the defendant on top of his daughter, with both hands around her throat. He was wearing washing-up type gloves.

When later questions by police, Ali claimed that nothing untoward had happened in the house and he had not touched her. He suggested that her account of what happened and that of Mr Nadim were lies.

The trial continues.