IN A clash between two Asian-origin men in Leicester, one man who stabbed his colleague while they worked at a house has been found guilty of murder.
Sulkahan Singh, 39, who is of Punjabi origin, was carrying out refurbishment work at the property in Penrith Avenue, alongside Sukhwinder Singh on July 2.
The pair became involved in an argument, resulting in Sulkahan fatally stabbing Sukhwinder.
The Leicester Crown Court on Friday (13) found Sulkahan guilty of murder and one count of possessing a bladed article in a public place.
Sukhwinder was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary soon after the incident, where he was pronounced dead, and a murder investigation was launched.
Sulkahan made off from the house, but other men working at the property told the police he was responsible, and he was arrested at a property in Norfolk Street around two hours after the act.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Yarwood from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) said: “This began as a relatively minor argument, but all of a sudden it spun out of control and tragically resulted in a man losing his life.
“Unfortunately, Sulkahan Singh wasn’t prepared to accept responsibility and instead tried to claim someone else must have been responsible for his colleague’s death. In an interview, he claimed he didn’t kill Sukhwinder even though witness statements said he did.
“My thoughts very much remain with Sukhwinder’s family and friends at this time.”
Sulkahan Singh.
Family of Sukhwinder Singh said in a statement: “When Sukhwinder went to England, we were very happy for him. Even though he had moved to a new country and was working, he was making plans to return to India and visit us.
“That will never happen.
“Since his death, our lives have been at a standstill. It is difficult to put into words how we feel, knowing we will never see his face again. His death has had a huge impact on all of us, both physically and mentally. Some of us feel weak, we have trouble sleeping and others have not been able to return to work.
“There are so many questions that we have asked one another since Sukhwinder’s death. Why did this happen? Did he know it was going to happen? Did he have the chance to defend himself?”
The family also thanked the British authorities for the support it received.
Apsana Begum
