Sun Tamang faces jail for strangling ex-Gurkha to death

Sun Tamang, from Aldershot, faces jail after she killed Man Limbu (pictured) and attacked his 48-year-old wife Gayatri on March 10 

A 50-year-old woman has been convicted of strangling an elderly ex-Gurkha to death before assaulting his wife with a traditional Nepalese knife and a rolling pin.

Sun Tamang, from Aldershot, faces jail after she killed Man Limbu and attacked his 48-year-old wife Gayatri on March 10 this year.

Tamang was convicted of manslaughter after a court heard she used Mr Limbu’s snood to strangle him following a dispute at her flat.

While he lay dying on her floor, she went to Mr Limbu’s home armed with a traditional machete-like Nepalese kukri knife and a rolling pin, and let herself in with his keys.

When Mr Limbu’s wife, Gayatri Devi Limbu, returned home, she attacked her with the weapons and bit her on the cheek.  

Tamang denied murdering Mr Limbu, who served with the British Gurkhas as part of the 7th Gurkha Rifles. 

She was cleared of the charge but convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

She was also convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm against Mr Limbu’s wife.

The trial was told Mr Limbu was found dead by Tamang’s children on the kitchen floor of their home after their mother had killed him.

Stephen Harvey QC, prosecuting, told the jury: ‘Precisely why she did so may never become absolutely clear, that she did so is beyond any doubt.

‘He was found there, where she left him, on the kitchen floor by her daughter and son when they arrived home from work.’

Their mother had left a note which said in Nepalese: ‘This person came to the door, knocked on the door and this person attacked me and then I retaliated. My children are not to be blamed.’

Mr Harvey added: ‘What is clear, however, from documents served by her solicitors is, firstly, she accepts that Mr Limbu died as a result of strangulation and, secondly, no other person was involved in his death.’ 

He said that any other motive for the killing was unknown as Tamang answered ‘no comment’ in police interview.

Mr Harvey QC added: ‘What happened after the killing was the defendant left home and went to see the dead man’s wife in a nearby road.

‘In doing so, her intentions appear clear because she took with her a khukuri knife – a Nepalese traditional knife. She also took a rolling pin.

‘When she arrived at Gayatri’s flat, she was out and the flat was empty. She was able to let herself in through the front door because she had taken Mr Limbu’s keys.

Tamang denied murdering Mr Limbu, who served with the British Gurkhas as part of the 7th Gurkha Rifles. She was cleared of the charge but convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Winchester Crown Court (pictured)

Tamang denied murdering Mr Limbu, who served with the British Gurkhas as part of the 7th Gurkha Rifles. She was cleared of the charge but convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Winchester Crown Court (pictured)

‘Mrs Limbu went in and was grabbed by the neck from behind. Initially, she could not see who it was and she was pulled by her hair into the kitchen.

‘Tamang pulled the khukuri knife and pointed it at her. Very bravely, she grabbed her hands and managed to disarm her.

‘She then took the rolling pin and hit Gayatri with it. She managed to disarm her again.

‘Mrs Limbu was repeatedly threatened with a knife. When she tried to shout for help, Tamang covered her mouth to silence her.

‘She pushed her to the floor, hit her and repeatedly threatened she was going to kill her. She said she would bite her to death. She then did bite her on the cheek.’ 

Mr Harvey QC said police had initially visited the address to inform Mrs Limbu of her husband’s death, but arrested Tamang when she answered the door. 

Giving evidence in court, Tamang said Mr Limbu ‘grabbed her hair’ following a row over her children and she was able to reach out and grab his snood.

She said: ‘He got angry and he grabbed my hair with his right hand.

‘It hurt very much and I had to bend down. I kept on saying ‘release me’ and I asked him to let go of me. He heard me say that, but he did not let go.

‘First, I reached for his face and he avoided it. When he avoided it, my hand landed on his neck and his neck warmer.

‘I had asked him to let go of me, but he didn’t, so I moved my hand to the left and to the right. I was in serious pain.’

The jury acquitted Tamang of an allegation that she had then falsely imprisoned Mrs Limbu in her own home until police arrived. 

She was remanded in custody until she is sentenced on December 21 and the judge, Mr Justice Lavender, ordered reports to be prepared on her. 

‘A caring father, a good husband and a helpful person’: Family of Man Limbu pay tribute to ‘proud’ Gurkha 

The family of Man Limbu have paid tribute to the ‘proud’ Gurkha who ‘zealously served the Queen and country’.

In a statement the 75-year-old’s family said: ‘Man was a man of his word. He took care of all family members, both financially and with practical help.

‘He was a caring father, a good husband and helpful person within the community.

‘He took his family responsibility seriously. He took care of problems that were faced by his immediate family and extended family members.

‘He was not very emotional like a lot of people from his generation but we knew that he cared. He was a pragmatic person too and always tried to resolve issues.

‘He had zealously served the Queen and country after joining the Gurkha Regiment and he was proud of that.

‘He was a big part of the Gurkha community in England. He was well known within the Nepalese community for being obliging where help and support was needed.

‘He always ready to assist where he needed. He was active and participated in lots of activities in the Nepalese community.

‘He will be very much missed by his wife, children, grandchildren & colleagues. His untimely death has left a big hole in their lives. They mourn his death to this day.

‘They are still struggling to understand the motive behind taking Man’s life.

‘Man’s death has left them with more questions than answers. The person responsible for his death should reflect on their action and repent for it accordingly.’  

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