Son sentenced to life for mother’s murder and attempted garden burial

A man who fatally assaulted his 76-year-old mother and subsequently attempted to inter her in the rear garden has been given a prison sentence of at least 31 years. Bhajan Kaur was discovered on May 13 at a property on Bolsover Street, Leicester, with “significant” head and face injuries, and a large hole was found excavated in the garden. Leicestershire Police reported that Sundeep Singh, 48, believed the family residence had been bequeathed to him by his deceased father, which was a source of conflict. Mrs Kaur had previously reported Singh to the police, leading to his arrest on suspicion of controlling and coercive behavior and subsequent bail. On the day of the killing, his mother allowed him into the house. Police indicated that Singh was living in his car on the driveway of the house at the time of the incident and was granted entry to the property on the day Mrs Kaur died. CCTV footage showed Singh later purchasing a heavy-duty two-wheeled trolley and a spade from a nearby store. He then returned to the house. Relatives, unable to contact Mrs Kaur, visited the property and discovered her body. Within minutes of the police being alerted, Singh was seen leaving the premises. When apprehended, he initially claimed a false identity and denied any knowledge of his mother’s death. Following a trial, Singh was convicted of murder at Leicester Crown Court on Monday and received a life sentence. Due to prior police interactions involving Mrs Kaur and Singh, the matter was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), resulting in “individual learning” for two police officers. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) murder investigation team, stated: “He [Singh] intended burying Mrs Kaur’s body but was disturbed before he could do that. “The house had been cleaned and there was a very strong smell of disinfectant. There was clear evidence showing the planning after her death.” He added that this has been “an extremely distressing and challenging time for Mrs Kaur’s family, they have been left devastated at the loss of their dear mother.”