1 hour ago
Isleworth Crown Court scheduled Daniel Sean James's murder trial for April 2027. The case has sharpened community concerns about possible anti-Sikh hatred in Britain.
London,Oct 19, 2026 23:30 IST
A 44-year-old man charged with murdering Indian national Kirandeep Kaur, who was fatally stabbed while sleeping at her home in west London, will stand trial in April 2027, the Press Trust of India reported.
Daniel Sean James allegedly attacked the 24-year-old at her home on Uxbridge Road in Hayes in the early hours of July 12, Isleworth Crown Court heard on Monday.
Kaur, who had moved to the UK from Punjab two years earlier, was allegedly stabbed while she was in bed with her husband and three-month-old baby.
Detective Chief Inspector Allam Bhangoo of the Metropolitan Police said at the time: "This is a shocking incident which has tragically resulted in one woman losing her life and another man in hospital with injuries."
"We know this incident will have caused significant concern in the community and residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days," he added.
The court heard that James remains in custody and now uses a wheelchair, PTI reported. According to a BBC court report, prosecutor Mukul Chawla said James had been "fully ambulatory" until the time of the alleged offence.
The murder trial is scheduled to begin on April 12, 2027, when a jury will hear the evidence.
Community groups had raised concerns after the attack that it could have been an anti-Sikh hate crime. The incident came weeks after the conviction of a British Sikh man for murdering a teenager in south-east England in May.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment for fatally stabbing 18-year-old Henry Nowak. During the trial, Digwa attempted to present a religious defence for carrying the murder weapon.
The Sikh Network later presented the findings of a "spot survey" in Parliament, claiming that 40 per cent of respondents had experienced or witnessed anti-Sikh hate crimes since Digwa's trial.
Shortly after Kaur's death, her family in Punjab told the BBC that they "never thought such a thing could happen to her in London".
James remains in custody ahead of his April 2027 trial over the alleged killing of Kaur at her west London home.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
