A Birmingham University student must serve at least 14 years behind bars after being found guilty yesterday of murdering her pregnant love rival.

Harmohinder Sanghera, 23, knifed Sana Ali to death after having an affair with the victim’s husband Sair. She was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 14 years before being considered for release.

Described as an intelligent and independent young woman, Sanghera, from Solihull, took a 6.5in (17cm) kitchen knife to the house her lover shared with his wife and stabbed her 43 times in a "ferocious and sustained" attack.

The murder was "born of jealousy and desperation" after her lover had lied about his marriage – then his 17-year-old wife fell pregnant.

Sanghera, known as Mindy, travelled from her home in Monastery Drive to the house in Bury, Greater Manchester, on May 11.

She told the jury at Manchester Crown Court the trip was intended so she could tell the wife about the affair and then finish it. The murder weapon was found at the crime scene.

Sentencing her, Judge John Saunders said he would take into account "the degree of planning and premeditation, the fact Sana was pregnant and known to the defendant as pregnant".

"She (Sana) was trying to make her marriage work and she was 11 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, a fact of which you were well aware," the judge added.

He described the planning that Sanghera undertook: "You waited until you could be sure nobody was in the house. You tried to disguise her death as suicide. That was unsuccessful because she fought to save her life."

He said of Sanghera: "The degree of distress that she was acting under was extreme."

Outside court, Sana’s mother, Maryam Fatima, said: "I wanted to say thank you to the respectable judge, jury, prosecution and to all investigating departments.

"They gave us justice. Sana will be happy today. Sana will smile today. Sana will be in peace today."

Sana’s father-in-law Zafir Ali said: "Much play was made by the defence around the credibility of my family and friends by an apparent learned defence counsel.

"We are, however, thankful the jury saw beyond the smokescreen that was created by the evil lies of Harminder Sanghera, projected by her defence, family, friends and affiliates.

"This day brings us no joy as we have lost our Sana, a beautiful wife, daughter, sister and mother-to-be."

Detective Superintendent Jane Antrobus, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "These terrible circumstances have wrecked two families – both Sana and Sanghera’s family have lost their daughters. Sana was an innocent victim who did not deserve to have her life, and that of her unborn child, taken in this way.

"I know it has been very difficult for Sana’s family, particularly her mum, to hear about the circumstances surrounding her only daughter’s death and the loss of her unborn grandson.

"I just hope that she can somehow now find some sort of closure and try to move on with her life."