Karla Pukutova was found guilty of perverting the course of justiceKarla Pukutova (Image: Manchester Evening News)

A mum who hid incriminating evidence and lied to police after her ex-partner killed a relative in a knife fight on New Year’s Eve has been jailed.

Karla Pukutova, a mother-of-three, tried to hide knives used by the pair after both suffered grave injuries. Alberto Ursu, the partner of Pukutova’s sister, died after being knifed by Hassan Suliman, Pukutova’s ex-partner.

The horror incident unfolded in the street outside Pukutova’s home on Essex Street in Rochdale, in the early hours of New Year’s Day after a boozy family party.

Suliman was accused of murder, but was acquitted and instead found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at Manchester Crown Court in September.

He was previously handed a 16-year extended sentence which includes a 13-year custodial element. At a subsequent hearing today at Manchester Crown Court, Pukutova, 32, was sentenced to nine months in prison for perverting the course of justice.

Hassan Suliman(Image: GMP)

Her barrister had appealed for Pukutova to be spared jail, noting the impact it would have on her children. But Judge Patrick Field KC said: “I am aware steps have been taken to mitigate such difficulties.

“It is not suggested by social services that you being taken away from your children will disproportionately impact upon them.”

Suliman, 31, and Mr Ursu, 38, had been at a gathering at a home on Essex Street but Suliman left, walked outside and ‘attacked a random member of the public’ – a man who had been walking past the house. People inside, including Mr Ursu, went outside to ‘try and calm things down’.

Suliman then became involved in a ‘struggle’ with family members and he told Mr Ursu: “Come on then, if you’re a big man.” They became involved in a fight. The police were called and ordered anyone who did not live there to leave. Mr Ursu returned to his home on Sussex Street with members of his family.

Alberto Ursu(Image: GMP)

But two hours later, on Essex Street, the pair become involved in a knife fight. Mr Ursu was able to walk a short distance along Essex Street before collapsing. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead just after 4am. Suliman was found nearby on Milkstone Road. He almost died from a stab wound to his back and underwent surgery, losing a kidney.

In the aftermath of the incident, Pukutova picked up two knives that had been used by the pair, and tried to hide them behind a radiator in the front room of her home.

Later, she claimed that she’d been in the bathroom of her home when she’d heard shouting and then became aware of the fight. “That was a lie,” Judge Field told her.

“You saw the fight and were outside at the time. I accept of course that your attempts to conceal the knives were short lived, unsophisticated and less than wholly effective.

“It didn’t take much effort for the police to find them. I also accept that you may not have known that Alberto had lost his life when you hid the knives and when you told lies to the police.”

Defending, Sukhdev Garcha said Pukutova had no previous convictions and is the sole carer for her children. He said she had not tried to remove any scientific evidence from the knives, by wiping or washing them.

The judge told Pukutova: “People who lie to the police or try to conceal evidence of serious offences must expect punishment. This sort of offence is said to strike at the heart of the justice system, and so it does.”

Pukutova, of Essex Street, Rochdale, was told she would serve 40 per cent of her jail sentence behind bars before being released on licence.