This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-17027513
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Gagandip Singh's fatal infatuation | Gagandip Singh's fatal infatuation |
(5 days later) | |
By Dil Neiyyar BBC Asian Network | By Dil Neiyyar BBC Asian Network |
To the outside world, Gagandip Singh had it all. | To the outside world, Gagandip Singh had it all. |
He was young, wealthy, ran his own satellite TV station and had started up the British Sikh Student Federation. | He was young, wealthy, ran his own satellite TV station and had started up the British Sikh Student Federation. |
To a handful of people who knew him well however, the 20-year-old was a tortured soul, obsessed by an "attractive and intelligent" medical student. | To a handful of people who knew him well however, the 20-year-old was a tortured soul, obsessed by an "attractive and intelligent" medical student. |
Mundill Mahil, also 20, liked Mr Singh as a friend but had no interest in a relationship with the millionaire Sikh activist from Bexleyheath in south-east London. | Mundill Mahil, also 20, liked Mr Singh as a friend but had no interest in a relationship with the millionaire Sikh activist from Bexleyheath in south-east London. |
And one night in 2010, on a visit to Mahil's flat in Brighton, he overstepped a line for which he would ultimately pay with his life. | And one night in 2010, on a visit to Mahil's flat in Brighton, he overstepped a line for which he would ultimately pay with his life. |
She had allowed him to stay overnight but Mr Singh misread the signs and tried to force himself on her. | She had allowed him to stay overnight but Mr Singh misread the signs and tried to force himself on her. |
She managed to fight him off and, shocked by his own actions, he broke down and apologised, before fleeing the flat. | She managed to fight him off and, shocked by his own actions, he broke down and apologised, before fleeing the flat. |
'Gangster friend' | 'Gangster friend' |
For months afterwards, he bombarded Mahil with apologetic calls and text messages but she was upset and angry over the attempted rape. | For months afterwards, he bombarded Mahil with apologetic calls and text messages but she was upset and angry over the attempted rape. |
From then on, she developed an intense hatred for him and confided her feelings to others. | From then on, she developed an intense hatred for him and confided her feelings to others. |
One of those confidants was Harinder Shoker, who was also a close friend of Mr Singh. | One of those confidants was Harinder Shoker, who was also a close friend of Mr Singh. |
Shoker was also infatuated with Mahil, so when she told her "gangster friend" of the attempted rape the pair plotted revenge. | Shoker was also infatuated with Mahil, so when she told her "gangster friend" of the attempted rape the pair plotted revenge. |
She told the Old Bailey the plan was for Shoker and a friend to give Mr Singh a lecture on his unacceptable behaviour and possibly "a slap or two". | She told the Old Bailey the plan was for Shoker and a friend to give Mr Singh a lecture on his unacceptable behaviour and possibly "a slap or two". |
So, after months of silence she lured Mr Singh to Brighton with an offer of talks. | So, after months of silence she lured Mr Singh to Brighton with an offer of talks. |
He had resolved to cure his obsession with her but he was "excited" at the chance to see her again and renew their friendship, the court heard. | He had resolved to cure his obsession with her but he was "excited" at the chance to see her again and renew their friendship, the court heard. |
But he was also worried he could be walking into a trap and had even sent her a text message asking: "OK, can we talk civil or do you just want me dead?" | But he was also worried he could be walking into a trap and had even sent her a text message asking: "OK, can we talk civil or do you just want me dead?" |
On 25 February last year, he set off to Brighton borrowing his sister's Mercedes. | On 25 February last year, he set off to Brighton borrowing his sister's Mercedes. |
The moment he arrived, carrying a teddy bear and flowers, and stepped through the front door and into Ms Mahil's bedroom, Shoker set upon him. He violently beat him. | |
Ms Mahil told the court she ran out of the room in a panic because she had not expected the violence. | Ms Mahil told the court she ran out of the room in a panic because she had not expected the violence. |
Shoker and Peters wrapped Mr Singh in bedding and bundled it into the boot of the Mercedes. | Shoker and Peters wrapped Mr Singh in bedding and bundled it into the boot of the Mercedes. |
The pair drove the car back to a road near the wide open spaces of Blackheath in south-east London and poured petrol over the vehicle before setting it on fire. | The pair drove the car back to a road near the wide open spaces of Blackheath in south-east London and poured petrol over the vehicle before setting it on fire. |
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Singh was alive when the fire was started and died from inhaling the fumes. | A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Singh was alive when the fire was started and died from inhaling the fumes. |
'Revenge and retribution' | 'Revenge and retribution' |
The fire had been so fierce the car was unrecognisable to his family the following day. | The fire had been so fierce the car was unrecognisable to his family the following day. |
Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC told the jury the attack was carried out to "exact revenge and retribution" on Mr Singh, who Mahil knew "remained besotted by her". | Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC told the jury the attack was carried out to "exact revenge and retribution" on Mr Singh, who Mahil knew "remained besotted by her". |
"Her role was central," Mr Jafferjee said. "If she hadn't agreed to lure him to Brighton that fateful evening the deceased would have been safe and alive today." | "Her role was central," Mr Jafferjee said. "If she hadn't agreed to lure him to Brighton that fateful evening the deceased would have been safe and alive today." |
"[Shoker] almost certainly had his own agenda and it was not of the righteous crusader protecting a young woman's virtue," he said. | "[Shoker] almost certainly had his own agenda and it was not of the righteous crusader protecting a young woman's virtue," he said. |
"He, being besotted with her, was more than happy to get rid of Gagandip." | "He, being besotted with her, was more than happy to get rid of Gagandip." |
The court was told Peters was a "hired" help. | The court was told Peters was a "hired" help. |
Shoker, 20, of Charlton Park Lane in Greenwich, south-east London, has been convicted of murder and jailed for at least 22 years. | |
Peters, of Shooters Hill Road in Blackheath, also 20, was convicted of manslaughter and imprisoned for 12 years. | |
Mahil, from Maidstone road in Chatham, Kent, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and received a six-year sentence. | |
All three had denied murder. | All three had denied murder. |
It is the second tragedy for the Singh family in as many years. | It is the second tragedy for the Singh family in as many years. |
In 2009, Mr Singh's father Charanjit, who had built up a successful employment agency, was shot dead on a trip to India. | In 2009, Mr Singh's father Charanjit, who had built up a successful employment agency, was shot dead on a trip to India. |
Mahil gave Mr Singh emotional support following the murder and they grew close, before the relationship broke down. | Mahil gave Mr Singh emotional support following the murder and they grew close, before the relationship broke down. |
Previous version
1
Next version