A Sikh father-of-two who ‘brutally’ murdered his wife by beheading her with a ceremonial weapon has been jailed for life.
Baldeep Singh, 39, carried out the killing of Amandeep Kaur, 35, at their family home after becoming paranoid she was having an affair.
A court heard he left his wife with ‘utterly brutal and horrific’ neck injuries which severed her spinal cord using a Takua – a Sikh weapon of symbolic importance similar to an axe.
He then made a phone call to police at 2.50pm on February 3, after seeking advice from his father shortly after the killing.
Baldeep Singh (left) carried out the killing of Amandeep Kaur (right) at their family home after becoming paranoid she was having an affair
Singh confessed to a stunned call handler and was arrested at the house in Thurmaston, Leicester after police found Amandeep dead upstairs in the bedroom.
Earlier this year he pleaded guilty to murder and was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 19 years at Leicester Crown Court on Monday.
A judge told the defendant he had been ‘consumed with obsessive jealousy’ and had subjected her to previous psychological and physical abuse.
Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: ‘In circumstances that will never be fully explained, you used a weapon to inflict appalling injuries on your wife.
‘I find that you used a takua, a Sikh weapon of symbolic ceremonial importance.
‘I find that because that’s what your wife told her sister you had introduced into the home. She was concerned about it because she knew what you were capable of.
‘I don’t consider you introduced it for the specific purpose of attacking and killing your wife.
‘In my judgement when you brought it into the household it was something at least you contemplated using.
‘You’d been consumed over a long period of time with obsessive jealousy of your wife and were controlling her independence in her own life.
‘She struggled against your efforts to control her. She’d found a job she enjoyed and it’s clear she was sociable.
A court heard he left his wife with ‘utterly brutal and horrific’ neck injuries which severed her spinal cord using a Takua – a Sikh weapon of symbolic importance (stock image)
‘You resented that and the fact she enjoyed the company of others. You were convinced, on no basis whatsoever, she was having an affair or affairs.
‘There was a background of psychological and physical abuse. You became irrationally obsessed she was having relationships.
‘You used the takua, an axe-like implement, to inflict utterly brutal, horrific injuries, severing her spinal cord and inflicting other deep and appalling wounds.
‘It’s to be hoped her suffering was short, but she must have suffered appallingly in the time of her death.
‘I don’t think it was planned, but from time to time you would contemplate using extreme violence towards your wife.
‘I have heard from Rajiv Kaur, she spoke of what a good person her sister was. It’s clear Amandeep suffered in silence the abuse over the years you inflicted upon her.
‘She was a loving wife who wanted nothing more than to be loved by you, but you didn’t return her feelings.
‘Amandeep leaves two daughters who have been profoundly affected by your actions.
‘The extended family have suffered grievously as a result of your wicked actions.’
Detective Inspector Chris Barratt, of Leicestershire Police, added: ‘Due to Singh’s actions two young children have lost their mother and he now faces a prison sentence with little or no contact with his children.’