A man has today appeared in court charged with murdering a respected doctor and her teenage daughter before setting their home on fire.
The bodies of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi, 49, and Vian Mangrio, 14, were discovered inside their fire and smoke-damaged house in Burnley, Lancashire, on October 1.
Shabaz Khan, 51, today stood in the dock at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.
Khan, who lives a mile away from Dr Sacharvi, spoke only to confirm his name and address during the two-minute hearing.
Dr Sacharvi and her daughter Vian were found dead by neighbours on October 1 after the mother failed to make her weekly phone call to her mother living in Pakistan.
The bodies of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi, 49, and Vian Mangrio, 14, were discovered inside their fire and smoke-damaged house in Burnley, Lancashire, on October 1
Police vans are pictured outside the family home in Burnley as they investigated last Thursday
A post-mortem examination on Dr Sacharvi showed she died from pressure to her neck and that she was also assaulted.
The second body has not yet been formally identified but is believed to be her daughter, Vian.
Tests have shown Vian, a pupil at Marsden Heights Community College in Nelson, was badly burnt, but officials have not yet determined the cause of her death.
There was evidence of smoke and fire damage inside the property, Lancashire Police said.
Detective superintendent Jon Holmes, Head of Major Crime at Lancashire Police, said today: ‘Our thoughts remain with Saman and Vian’s family and we have officers supporting them at this awful time.
‘We are continuing to ask anybody with information about this incident to get in touch with us.
‘If you were in the area and saw something suspicious, have dashcam or CCTV from the area or have any other information, we would ask you to contact us straight away.’
Vian (above), 14, was an ‘outstanding student’, according to the headteacher at her school
Scores of emotional tributes have poured in for Dr Sacharvi (pictured), who worked for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Officers yesterday arrested a woman, 44, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and aiding and abetting murder.
She was last night in custody being quizzed by investigators.
Dr Sacharvi was a junior doctor with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s specialist perinatal community mental health team since February.
She most recently worked at its Daisyfield site in Blackburn. Paying tribute to her, perinatal lead consultant Gill Strachan said: ‘Dr Sacharvi fitted in well with the team.
‘She was approachable, diligent and had formed good working relationships with the team. She was empathic and well-liked by the women and families that she worked with. Her colleagues described her as very kind, brilliant and a joy to work with.
‘During lockdown when Covid-19 restrictions were in place, she went out of her way to support the care of women, personally delivering prescriptions to women isolating at home.
Flowers left at the scene in Burnley this week following the deaths of the mother and daughter
Emergency services at the scene last Thursday following the discovery of the two bodies
‘The team are shocked and saddened, and she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with family and friends at this very sad time.’
Dr Sacharvi’s husband is believed to have returned to Pakistan because of ill health.
Headteacher of Marsden Heights Community College, Alyson Littlewood, said: ‘We are shocked and heartbroken by the tragic deaths of Vian and her mother and our whole school is mourning the loss of two much-loved members of our community.
‘Vian was an outstanding student. She had that wonderful mix of academic ability coupled with an enthusiasm for everything else that school can offer.
‘She was very popular and was involved in a whole range of school activities. She was extremely supportive of her friends, was generous to all and had a smile that could fill a room.
‘We were all very fortunate to have her in our lives and we will miss her on a daily basis.’
Khan was remanded in custody until October 13, where he will appear for a bail application at Preston Crown Court.