The family of a man who suffered a fatal stab wound during a row with his girlfriend have spoken out after she was cleared of his murder and manslaughter.

Bilal Saddique, 29, was killed after Sarah Willis, 20, a Muslim convert herself, picked up a large kitchen knife and the blade was plunged into his thigh, severing his femoral artery.

Mr Saddique’s family and elderly parents said they were deeply saddened by how some media organisations had focused on the religious aspects of the case, and were disgusted by how he was painted as ‘controlling’ in court.

Mr Saddique’s mother has not left the house since his death and mourns for her son every single minute of the day. His sister Farzana said: “Words cannot describe our loss of Bilal. Our family will always remain incomplete and his mother is inconsolable. Seeing Bilal’s character assassinated in the way it was, was very upsetting.

“After the verdict no-one asked us for our opinion and were far more interested in her and her family.

“People must remember that he was the victim in all of this and also realise all the negativity has come from Sarah’s mouth alone.

“She tarnished his reputation. The people that know Bilal will know the truth and remember he was a kind, generous and loving man.

“Ever since he met her only two years ago he tried his very best to help her with problems she had, yet somehow he was portrayed as the aggressor.”

The death on August 18 last year on Revidge Road, Blackburn shocked a whole community and over 5,000 people attended the funeral prayers at Ghosia Mosque in the town.

In court, the family endured listening to the 999 call Miss Willis made to the police and his last breaths.

Before the fatal incident, the couple had been rowing and Miss Willis was packing her bags to leave, gathering up items including a set of knives.

The court heard how Miss Willis picked up the knife as her boyfriend shouted ‘stab me if you hate me’. At this point, Miss Willis told the court, Mr Saddique grabbed her wrist and forced the blade into his own leg.

Miss Willis said she thought he had done this to scare her rather than hurt himself.

Mr Saddique’s other sister Rizwana said: “We don’t feel justice been done and the death of Bilal has gone unpunished. We don’t feel she or her family have shown any genuine remorse following Bilal’s death.”

Outside court, Miss Willis said: “My thoughts are with Bilal’s family.”

Rizwana continued by saying she did not recognise the picture painted of her brother in court by Miss Willis.

She said: “He actually felt very sorry for her and wanted to help her.”

Father Mohammed Saddique, aged 82, said the good memories of his son would live on. “We never stopped Bilal from marrying her and gave him permission to do so. There was never any pressure from the family.

“He also lived here with us and not with her as it was mentioned."

Farzana said the family were also upset the case had been manipulated to suit particular ‘anti-Muslim agendas’ within the national press.

She said: “The manner in which some of the court case has been reported in the wider media who picked up on a Muslim angle was wrong.“This was an argument between two people. It is very dangerous if trained journalists choose to pick out Muslim-related issues and use these to fill their pages.”

The family wanted to thank the police for their assistance in the matter: “The police team have been wonderful and we can’t thank them enough.”