Distraught Iraqi mother describes seeing 'migrant boat killer climbing on top of her exhausted daughter' Ghater, 16, and 'suffocating her with his knees on her chest' as she lay nauseous from drinking sea water on sinking vessel

A distraught mother has told police how a migrant choked her daughter to death as their boat sank in the Mediterranean.

According to investigative statements, obtained by MailOnline, the man, identified as Iranian Haukar Ahmadi, 27, attacked Ghater Maylan, 16, as the vessel took on water.

In her statement Mojda Omar, 41, said: 'Suddenly that man, Haukar approached my daughter and jumped on her, he put both his knees on his chest, pressing down with all his strength on her body.

'I tried shouting at him to stop, telling him to get off my daughter, but he carried on doing what he was doing until she died.'

The horrific incident happened earlier this week as the boat the group were on -packed with around 70 migrants - sank in waters off the southern Italian coast after leaving the Turkish port of Bodrum.

However police have told MailOnline, the woman has not reported her daughter was raped, despite earlier claims which were widely reported in Italian media, including first by respected news agency AGI. This was put down to mistranslation.

Gianfranco Minissale, who is leading the investigation, said: 'The woman is obviously very clearly traumatised by what she saw happen to her daughter and the journey they made from Turkey.

'We are investigating the claims of murder, and the man has been detained but we have not received the body of the girl.

'The mother has been interviewed and we will be interviewing the other survivors but at this point the only crime being investigated is murder, we are not investigating a rape, there was mistranslation.

'An investigating magistrate has validated the arrest and the man is in prison while inquiries continue. It's a very traumatic case for officers involved as well as the woman.'

Ahmadi is said to have 'vented his fury' on Ghater after seeing his own daughter drown as the vessel sank, with just 12 people being rescued by Italian coastguards, including Ahmadi and Mojda.

Only half of those who drowned have been recovered and among them are numerous children, and Italian coastguard footage showed the boat held submerged in water off the coast of Rocella Ionica in the 'toe' of Italy.

Police said Ahmadi's wife and daughter had drowned and he is now in custody at Catanzaro prison while investigations continue while Mojda is in a local hospital.

In her statement Mojda added: 'Up until then, before the attack, my daughter was talking and was fine.

'Even though in the days before she had drunk a lot of sea water, was sick and had little strength. I told her that we were almost there and to stay strong.

'Then this man threw himself on her and I didn't hear her again. I think she died straight away because after going through that choking, she didn't show any signs of life.'

Breaking in down in tears, according to police present as she gave her statement, Mojda added: 'My son Naser went to have a look at his sister after Haukar suffocated her and realised she was no longer breathing.

'None of us could do anything because we had no strength, as we were exhausted.'

Mojda told police that other migrants on board the semi submerged vessel had died and he had trampled over their bodies to get to her daughter.

She added: 'Afterwards I thought he would kill me as well because he put his knees on my throat.

'He was behaving strangely, right from the start of the journey. I thought at first, he wanted to rape my daughter but then I thought he would calm down.

'He then argued with my son as the days went by, as my son had asked him to help move the body of my husband who died onboard but he refused.

'Three hours before he killed my daughter, she had trousers on and Haukar was shouting at her to take them off, he wanted to see her naked.'

Antonio Cavo, who has been appointed to defend, Ahmadi, said: 'At this present time my client has not given me permission to speak to the media, once I have seen him and spoken with him I will be able to talk.'