A man who evaded capture for 17 years following a murder in Hayes in 1996 has today (Thursday, October 8) been sentenced to life imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court.
Kiranjit Uppal, 37,of no fixed abode was found guilty on Monday, October 7 of the murder of Harminder Singh Jhaghra in February 1996.
Today he was ordered to serve a minimum of 16-years, finally giving closure to the Jhaghra family after an agonising and grief stricken 18 year wait for justice.
There were cries of joy and relief in the packed court room this afternoon as over 30 members of Harminder's friends and family listened to the judge deliver his sentence.
Sentencing Uppal, Aiden Marron QC said: "There is no doubt that you were a leading member of a gang which initially launched an attack upon a totally innocent 15-year-old boy. Due to the vicious nature of the assault on him which was a sustained attack with weapons, you left him in such a condition that a witness said he thought the boy was dying. It is my view that it is merely providence alone that prevented his injuries form being more serious."
In addressing the events leading up to the murder of Harminder after the initial attack on the teenage boy, the judge said that the Southall group were also armed and prepared for violence. However he acknowledged that they and particularly Harminder were more anxious to talk in order to calm the situation.
Aiden Marron QC continued: "Shortly after this attack you led a gang to ambush the group Harminder was in. I take the view that there was no intention to kill. However in the very early stages of the ambush, using a large knife or sword you severed the artery on Harminder's arm.
"You killed someone who was a decent human being, a respected member of the community and much loved by many. You were only 18 years of age and youthfulness is always a factor in these circumstances. But you are now in your late 30s and you have contested this trial whilst exhibiting absolutely no remorse. By avoiding prosecution for 18 years you have caused that family so much extra grief and for that you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I sentence you to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 16 years."
He was found guilty of grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident which occurred on the same day, prior to the murder. For this offence, he was sentenced to five-years to run concurrently.
Uppal fled the UK in the days following Harminder’s murder but was arrested by officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command on September 9, 2013 after disembarking from an inbound flight at Heathrow airport from India.
After the sentencing Harminder's mother Joginder Kaur Jhaghra, 74, who had wept throughout, told getwestlondon that she can now have closure. She said: "It is some consolation that he has finally been arrested, sentenced and will now serve time in prison. But his 16 year sentence is less than the 18 years I have waited for justice over the killing of my son. It is however a good sentence and I am grateful for that and can now have closure. But his parents have the choice to visit him. I cannot ever again see my son."
Harminder's younger brother Pabinder Jhaghra, who was initially arrested along with another brother Satvinder at the time of the murder said: "I think the judge did a wonderful job. I am relieved and happy that he got the longest sentenced the judge could give. We want him to suffer like we have suffered and that for him begins today. He had opportunity to speak to answer our questions and to give some kind of peace and respect to my mother but he did none of those things. He showed not one bit of remorse throughout the whole trial. I feel nothing for him. He got what he deserved and we can finally have closure. But life will never be the same for us."
A victim impact statement read out to the court described what life has been like since Harminder's death whilst waiting for justice. The statement read in part: "How does one explain an 18 year wait for justice. Every day I think is this the day? All the time I think we could be sitting in the same room as the perpetrator as we never knew him. And for 18 years we wait for the phone call telling us the murderer has been caught.
"As a result of Harminder's killing we never ignore a phone call and we never end the day on a bad note. We are scared when one of us is out, or doesn't answer their phone and terrified when we hear ambulance sirens. His funeral was held at a time when Harminder should have been on his honeymoon.
"Every Wednesday mum has cooked the same meal that Harminder did not eat on that tragic day. Mum cannot be left alone. We have had 18 years of never ending grief."
