Woman’s lifeless body found by husband and stepchildren

A murdered woman’s lifeless body was found by her husband and step-children when they returned home from school.  

Sarbjit Kaur, 38, is thought to have been murdered in a burglary gone wrong at her home on Rookery Lane, in the leafy suburb of Penn, Wolverhampton. 

She was last seen alive by her husband Gurpreet Singh at about 9am on Friday morning when he left to go to work at the construction company he is director of.

Police attended the scene after textile worker Sarbjit Kaur was found murdered in her home with her body being discovered by her husband and step-children 

After finishing work, Mr Singh picked up his two children, a girl aged 11 and a boy aged ten, from school and they returned to their home.

When they arrived, they found the body of Mrs Kaur.  

Police said the mother-of-two had been assaulted and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.  

Early inquiries suggest some items were taken from the £250,000 property and police are not ruling out a botched burglary as a possible motive. 

A friend of the family said she was a home-based textile worker and that material and fabric was found strewn near her body and upstairs.

The victim was last seen alive by her husband Gurpreet Singh at about 9am on Friday morning when he left to go to work

The victim was last seen alive by her husband Gurpreet Singh at about 9am on Friday morning when he left to go to work

Her husband, known locally as Sonu, is though to have been staying at a relatives’ house following the shocking murder, together with the two children who are from his first marriage.

According to locals, Sarbjit Kaur arrived in the country from the Punjab in India just under three years ago after she married Mr Singh in July 2015.

Mr Singh’s first wife, also an Indian national and the mother of his two children, had died of a sudden illness in India in December 2014. 

A post-mortem failed to reveal the cause of death but police have confirmed she was murdered, with items seemingly missing from the house

A post-mortem failed to reveal the cause of death but police have confirmed she was murdered, with items seemingly missing from the house

 The Inspector in charge of the murder investigation said: 'This is a shocking case, the likes of which are extremely rare'

 The Inspector in charge of the murder investigation said: ‘This is a shocking case, the likes of which are extremely rare’

West Midlands Police also confirmed that a post-mortem examination had not revealed a precise cause of death, and further tests are now being conducted. 

Inspector Chris Mallett, who is leading the murder investigation, said he is ‘keeping an open mind’ on the motive for the murder.

He said: ‘Mrs Kaur was attacked inside her own home. This is a shocking case, the likes of which are extremely rare, and we have a team of officers working on this murder enquiry to establish what happened and to finding the person or people responsible.

‘The motive so far is unclear and I’m keeping an open mind regards the circumstances…we are investigating several lines of enquiry including whether this was a random burglary or if the address or Mrs Kaur were deliberately targeted.

Mrs Kaur reportedly arrived in the country from the Punjab in India just under three years ago when she married Mr Singh in July 2015

Mrs Kaur reportedly arrived in the country from the Punjab in India just under three years ago when she married Mr Singh in July 2015

‘The interior was in an untidy state – which could indicate it had been searched – and we believe that some items are missing. We are working with the family to understand exactly what items were taken.

‘We have carried out CCTV and house-to-house enquiries, conducted an extensive forensic examination of the scene, and working with the family to establish the victim’s movements throughout the day.

‘I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious on Friday, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact my team on 101.’  

Neighbours of the couple expressed shock at the murder.

Five police cars and a forensic tent could be seen outside the sprawling detached home in Rookery Lane, the Penn, on Friday

Five police cars and a forensic tent could be seen outside the sprawling detached home in Rookery Lane, the Penn, on Friday

A resident living next door to the house said: ‘We’ve lived here for 20 years.

‘I used to head off to work at 5am and I used to the see the man who lived there, we would just give each other a friendly hello.

‘I never saw the woman, and didn’t know their names, but we’ve had a couple burglaries in the past.

‘The burglars wait for you to go to work and then they break in from the side gate or the back.

‘I don’t know if this area is being targeted but it is a bit worrying.’

Another neighbour added: ‘I only moved in five weeks ago, and I heard about this incident on the day it happened.

The home has been sealed off for forensic examination and officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries in the road where properties sell for around £250,000

The home has been sealed off for forensic examination and officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries in the road where properties sell for around £250,000

‘I’m a shocked at that this has happened, this is a nice neighbourhood.

‘We’ve got to be vigilant, and do things like keeping our doors and windows locked and watching for any suspicious behaviour, just have to look out for each other really.’

Another neighbour said: ‘It’s terrible what’s happened.

‘I didn’t know them personally, they just kept themselves to themselves, but everyone in neighbour pretty much does the same.

‘I’ve been here for 50 years and I’ve had a couple of burglaries myself, but not recently though.

‘They must see the houses and think these are wealthy and just wait till everyone’s out and then jump at the chance to break in.

‘I’ve seen on the news that we as neighbours have been told to be more vigilant, and we do.’ 

 Mr Singh is thought to be staying at a relatives' house together with his two children from his first marriage, a girl aged 11 and a boy aged ten

 Mr Singh is thought to be staying at a relatives’ house together with his two children from his first marriage, a girl aged 11 and a boy aged ten



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