50-year-old Indian-origin man gets life sentence for murder of girlfriend in UK

An Indian-origin man who brutally beat his girlfriend to death at his home in the East Midlands region of England has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a British court.

Police described it as a case of domestic violence and said it was important everyone affected got the support they needed to put an end to it before it was too late.

Raj Sidpara, a 50-year-old Leicester resident, was convicted of the murder of Tarnjeet Riaz, also known as Tarnjeet Chagger, after a trial at Leicester Crown Court last week.

According to Leicestershire Police, Raj Sidpara was sentenced to life in prison on Friday with a minimum term of 21 years behind bars before being considered for parole.

The couple had been dating for about five months and when emergency services were called to his Tarbat Road home on the afternoon of May 6, Tarnjeet was already dead.

44-year-old Tarnjeet was found with severe trauma to her face and several broken ribs when emergency services called from Sidpara found her unresponsive.

In October, Sidpara admitted the lesser charge of manslaughter for causing his girlfriend’s injuries, but denied intending to kill or cause her serious harm.

The court heard his victim suffered “two huge black eyes”, bleeding on the brain and 20 broken ribs, among other injuries. “You have steadfastly refused to explain what you did or why,” Judge William Harbage told the defendant in court.

“It is clear that you attacked her in a brutal and merciless manner; They punched, kicked and kicked her in a sustained attack,” a BBC court report said.

The court heard Sidpara was diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome and had 24 convictions for 46 offences, including making death threats and harassing former girlfriends and people associated with them.

Sidpara’s sentencing comes as Leicestershire Police said it had joined organizations around the world to support White Ribbon Day, which focuses on targeted action against violence against women and girls.

“Tarnjeet was killed by someone she was in a relationship with. Someone who should have supported and protected her, not someone who she should have feared would brutally attack her,” said Detective Inspector Emma Matts, lead investigating officer.

“While the person responsible will now spend many years behind bars, Tarnjeet’s family are left with so many questions and an overwhelming feeling as to whether they could have done more.”

We know that domestic violence is very complex. Victims often don’t want to tell their families and friends the details of what happens behind closed doors, let alone the police. However, it is important that all those affected receive the support they need to put an end to the abuse before it is too late,” she said.

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