Husband cleared of murder for killing wife with box cutter

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This was published 11 years ago

Husband cleared of murder for killing wife with box cutter

By Paul Bibby

An Indian man who cut his wife's throat eight times with a box cutter and left her bleeding to death in their western Sydney home has been found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder on the grounds he was provoked.

Manpreet Kaur, 28, was killed by her 24-year-old husband, Chamanjot Singh, in their home in Sydney's west on December 29, 2009, after he flew into a rage during an argument.

Chamanjot Singh ... guilty of manslaughter.

Chamanjot Singh ... guilty of manslaughter.

During the course of his murder trial in the NSW Supreme Court, the jury heard that Singh had been jealous of the new friendships his wife had forged in her adopted country and had beaten her on a number of occasions prior to killing her.

Singh pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but said he had been provoked and was therefore not guilty of murder.

Singh's defence claimed just before she was killed, Ms Kaur verbally abused him, repeatedly insulted his mother and said she loved another man.

Giving evidence during the trial, Singh told the jury: "I just lost it, I had no control of my body or mind.

"Manpreet said she never loved me, she love only [a man named] Preet," he said.

"I gave my life to this girl, but she said I love other man."

His barrister, Chrissa Loukas, said he had been caught in a "triangle of desperation".

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This triangle was created by the fact that his wife had allegedly engaged in adultery, by his fear of deportation and by the severe financial and family pressure he was under.

Today, after two days of deliberations, the jury accepted Singh's plea, finding him guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder.

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