Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Londoner who murdered father with champagne bottle jailed

Deekan Paul Singh Vig was found naked and surrounded by about 100 bottles of Champagne, including blood-stained bottles of Veuve Cliquot and Bollinger.

Londoner who murdered father with champagne bottle jailed

A Londoner man who was found guilty of the murder of his father by smashing a champagne bottle over his head in north London has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Deekan Paul Singh Vig, 54, was convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey last month and was sentenced to a minimum term of 18 years before being considered for parole at the same court on Friday (17).

Vig’s actions have left his family devastated as they must continue to deal with the loss of a loved one while he will spend a significant period of time in jail as a consequence of his actions, said Wayne Jolley, detective chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police who led the murder investigation.

The Met Police said Vig's father, 86-year-old Arjan Singh, lived at the same home as him in Southgate, north London, where police were called to a disturbance in October 2021. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Arjan was pronounced dead at the scene, the police said.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.

Later, the trial heard how officers found the body of Arjan on the floor of his son's bedroom with his head caved in.

According to the Evening Standard newspaper, Vig was naked and surrounded by about 100 bottles of Champagne, including blood-stained bottles of Veuve Cliquot and Bollinger.

“I killed my dad. I hit him over the head with a f***ing bloody bottle of Bollinger champagne,” he reportedly said.

Jurors heard how Vig had lived with his accountant father and zoologist mother Damanjit, 85, in their four-bedroom home for about 40 years.

The family had moved from Uganda to the UK when Vig was aged five after Idi Amin expelled members of the South Asian community from the east African country.

The court was told that Vig had developed a taste for alcohol during the Covid lockdown and admitted to drinking 500 ml of whisky earlier on the evening of the incident.

At the crime scene, police uncovered 100 bottles of champagne, 10 Amazon delivery boxes of whisky bottles, and an empty bottle of Talisker Scotch on the bed.

Vig had denied murder but admitted manslaughter on the second day of his trial arguing that he did not intend to cause his father really serious harm.

However, the jury deliberated for less than a day to find him guilty of murder.

(PTI)

More For You

Starmer-Getty

Starmer is facing a Labour backbench revolt over plans to reform special needs support in schools without guaranteeing existing legal rights. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images)

Starmer faces Labour pushback over SEND reform plans

KEIR STARMER is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, after ministers stopped short of guaranteeing legal rights for parents.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was committed to reforming the current system, which costs £12 billion a year. However, she did not confirm if legally enforceable rights, such as those provided by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), would remain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week

iStock

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London before 30°C heatwave

Key points

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
  • Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
  • Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
  • Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
  • UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south

Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.

The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.

Keep ReadingShow less
National Trust sets vision to heal
nature and engage more Asians

Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary

National Trust sets vision to heal nature and engage more Asians

THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.

Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lepra

'The 100 Club offers a powerful way to support and scale-up this work,' said the organisers.

Lepra launches 100 Club to support community-based leprosy detection

LEPRA launched its first high-value giving network, the 100 Club, on June 26. The event was held at Quilon Restaurant in London and brought together philanthropists, business leaders and supporters of the charity’s work.

The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club. Remarks were delivered by Lepra’s Chair of Trustees Suzanne McCarthy and CEO Jimmy Innes, who spoke about the organisation’s ASPIRE project.

Keep ReadingShow less