Taxi Driver Online

Yorkshire Post

September 21, 2006

HEADLINE: Contract killer calling for Avon

John Roberts

A contract killer who beat a young wife to death for just £50 has been working as an Avon rep in Leeds.

Andrew Armstrong, 39, moved to the city after his release from jail earlier this year after serving 16 years for the murder of Shaheen Hussain, 20, in Nottingham, in 1990. He was hired to kill her with another man by her taxi-driver husband Mohammed Afsar.

Armstrong's past came to light when he was arrested last month after a customer accused him of indecent assault. No charges were brought.

But the woman is shocked that a convicted killer has worked for Avon. She said: "It scares me. Being an Avon rep means he is calling mainly at women's homes at all times of day and night. I can't understand them allowing him to work for them."

The mother, in her early 30s, claimed that Armstrong indecently assaulted her when he delivered cosmetics to her home in north Leeds.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a 39-year-old was arrested but released without charge on Wednesday, August 2.

Armstrong was tried for murder in Nottingham in July, 1990. With his accomplice, he clubbed the woman to death before dumping her body in a lake. The killers were given half a bottle of brandy, half a bottle of cider and £50. Afsar, along with Armstrong and the second man, were all jailed for life.

An Avon spokeswoman confirmed Armstrong had sold Avon cosmetics but added representatives were self-employed and the company was not legally required to make checks, although criminal allegations were taken "extremely seriously". The firm always co-operated with police but had not been approached.
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