English widow expecting baby after husband’s murder

After her soldier husband was killed following a punch-up at The Market Inn, Habiba Haidari, 34, is determined to leave Bracknell, across the county border, with her baby.

She told The Sun newspaper that she was very happy with First Lieutenant Abdul Wali Mamozai, 33, a former Afghan special ops serviceman and they had spent the day together before his death, before he was invited out by a friend.

She said: “When I woke up, it was around 3.30am and I realised he had not come back.”

Although her husband’s phone was ringing, and her messages to him were delivered Mr Mamozai did not respond.

After calling him more than 100 times with no answer, she finally reported him missing to security guards.

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She told The Sun that the pair had made many memories in the short time they had together.

She said: “Wherever I go in the hotel, I imagine him there. I remember our moments in every corner. I cannot live in this hotel because these memories will destroy me.”

The lifeless body of Mr Mamozai, 33, who was trained by the Brits in Afghanistan, was discovered on April 26 at Colombia carpark in Bracknell near the Market Inn pub.

His wife, who is expecting their baby, said the couple had been evacuated from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 and were trying to rebuild their lives.

The Market Inn pub opposite Bracknell Station – where the fight took place before the murder (Image: Google Streetview)

After the Taliban declared victory on 15 August 2021 and took control of Kabul—leaving Hamid Karzai International Airport as the main evacuation point—UK forces helped airlift around 15,000 people during Operation Pitting.

The Taliban assisted with security and screening at the օդairport as evacuations took place during the final stages of the US-led withdrawal.

Mr Mamozai had been granted refuge under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Programme and arrived in the UK around seven months ago.

After initially staying in a hotel in Crawley, he moved to the Grange Hotel in Bracknell, where he later met and married Ms Haidari. He had been working at a local car wash.

Ms Haidari told The Sun her husband had been proud of his service with British troops and had trained as a commando, also completing a leadership course with US special forces in 2020.

Now in the depth of her grief, she has asked authorities to move her away from Bracknell and the Grange Hotel ‘surrounded by these memories’.

Thames Valley Police later confirmed Mr Mamozai died at the location he was found – the Colombia Car Park off Market Street.

Four men, aged 35, 33, 33 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of murder and assault by beating, and have since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Local people said that Mr Mamozai had been involved in a punch-up with several men at the Market Inn late on April 25.

Ms Haidari said the memories of their short time together in Bracknell were now too painful and that she had asked to be relocated.

Bracknell MP Peter Swallow described the incident as “deeply shocking and sad”, adding his thoughts were with the victim’s family.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown said officers were in the early stages of a complex investigation and urged anyone with information to come forward, asking the public not to speculate online.

Anyone with information can call 101, quoting reference 43260203481, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.