ROME, Aug 26: A fourth man wanted in the slaying of a Pakistani woman in an apparent ‘honour killing’, in a town in northern Italy has been charged, Italian news agencies reported on Friday.

The man was charged along with Mahmoud Khalid, who is married to the victim’s sister and who turned himself in to authorities on Thursday, the ANSA agency reported, quoting the men’s lawyer.

The body of Hina Saleem, 21, was found buried nearly two weeks ago in a hole dug in the family’s garden in the town of Sarezzo near the northern city of Brescia, authorities said.

Her father and uncle, who were taken into custody on Monday, Khalid and the fourth man all are accused of premeditated murder and hiding the body, lawyer Carlo Bonardi was quoted as saying.

Police in Brescia said no one was available to confirm the report late on Friday, and a home number listed under Bonardi’s name was constantly busy.

News reports did not name the fourth man.

Investigators said the father initially told police that he had killed his daughter because she had defied the family. But authorities said that he had since refused to repeat the admission or otherwise reply to questions during formal interrogations.

Saleem’s mother, Bushra Begun Saleem, has said her daughter was disobedient, often out late without saying where she was or when she was coming home. She also said she did not forgive her husband for his alleged participation in the killing.

The mother had left for Pakistan before the slaying and flew back after she learned the news.

News reports said that the victim’s family had been insisting on an arranged marriage with a cousin in Pakistan, but Hina Saleem had been dating an Italian man.—AP