Grandmother who arranged ‘honour killing’ of daughter-in-law to be freed from prison after 15 years

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Bachan Athwal, then 70, was jailed alongside her son Sukhdave in 2007 for the so-called honour killing of 27-year-old Surjit Athwal, who went missing during a trip to India in 1998. The Old Bailey heard how Bachan discovered Athwal had been having an affair and wanted to divorce her son but told family members this would only happen “over my dead body”. open image in gallery The Parole Board said Bachan Athwal, who is in ill health and suffers from dementia, is at a ‘very low’ risk of reoffending Sentencing them both to life imprisonment in September 2007, Judge Giles Forrester told the mother and son: “The pair of you decided that the so-called honour of your family members was worth more than the life of this young woman. I have no doubt you exercised a controlling influence over other family members.” On Wednesday the Parole Board said Bachan, who is in poor health and suffers from dementia, could be released from prison.