Motive a mystery in murder of Asian radio presenter

(PA )

Detectives investigating the murder of an Asian radio presenter at her home sought to reassure other women yesterday as they called on the public for information that might help them to establish a motive for the killing.

Nasim Jamil, 54, was known to friends and colleagues as "Aunty" because of her show on a Glasgow radio station in which she offered advice to troubled listeners and helped to bring divided families together.

She died from multiple head injuries after the attack at her third-floor flat in Byres Road in the city's busy West End area on Wednesday. Tributes were paid yesterday to the widow who was described as "bubbly and jolly" and a "fantastic person".

Her body was found by her daughter with whom she lived and who also worked at the station, Awaz FM, which broadcasts to Glasgow's large Punjabi-and Urdu-speaking communities.

Police were studying CCTV footage taken around the multicultural area in the hours leading up to 8pm on Wednesday, when she was discovered. Forensic experts examined the scene while officers carried out door-to-door inquiries.

The last time Mrs Jamil had been seen alive was at 1.30pm that day when she had attended a doctor's appointment.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Raphael, said a motive was still unclear and police could not say yet whether the attack was linked to the show. She urged anyone with information to come forward.

She said the attack had been particularly brutal. "It may well be that the person responsible's clothing will have been bloodstained. It is important that we speak to any person who could provide that little bit of information that could prove vital to our investigation.

"I would like to reassure members of the public that everything possible is being done to trace the person or persons responsible. Understandably, people will be concerned, in particular women. However although it may be small comfort, crimes of this nature are very rare," she said.

Mrs Jamil had presented the programme Yaadon Ka Phool since 2004. It encouraged listeners to get in touch and air their problems while she gave out recipes and advice.

Javaid Ullah, station director at Awaz FM, said her loss would be felt by the entire Asian community in Glasgow. He said it was like "losing a mother" and Mrs Jamil had always been happy to stand in on other shows, even covering the religious slot.

"We have lost not just a great presenter but a great person. She was one of the jolliest, bubbliest people you could ever come across. She was always happy and always smiling. She was fantastic and will be missed by everyone," he said.

In her presenter's profile, she had said: "I set this as my main goal of my programme and managed to fulfil my dream. I reunited five people and this made me very happy. I love doing my programme on Awaz FM and if I had another opportunity to help reunite many more families I would do it gladly."

Awaz FM, which means voice, has been broadcasting in both Asian and English languages to the people of Strathclyde since 2002. It is run by volunteers and has no paid staff, describing itself as "the voice of Glasgow's community and of all faiths, a voice to let the people of Glasgow express their needs [and] desires".

But it is the second tragedy in two years to hit the station. Last year a former programme assistant, Sehrish Waqar Sheikh, 23, who dreamt of becoming a radio presenter herself, was murdered by an obsessed stalker in east London after he heard that she was engaged and was planning to marry.

Rafi Ullah, 29, came to Britain from Pakistan on a long-term student visa. He burst into her flat in Poplar wearing a wig and a Phantom of the Opera mask covered with fake blood before stabbing the college receptionist 65 times. He was sent to a mental hospital for an indefinite period by an Old Bailey judge after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He also admitted stabbing a pregnant college administrator in the shoulder.