Four men quizzed as relatives condemn ‘senseless’ carjack murder

Harjinder Singh Bhurji, 32, died in a pool of blood after being stabbed when he refused to hand over keys to his black Mercedes CLK coupe.

As three suspects – aged 20, 19 and 17 – were arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder, the victim’s best friend Gurmit Birdi, 32, said Mr Bhurji’s family was “distraught”.

Detectives leading the murder inquiry said a fourth man was also being quizzed for handling stolen goods.

Bachelor Mr Bhurji was sitting in his sports car talking to a female friend when a robber opened the passenger door and dragged the woman from the car.

The victim, who lived in Ilford, east London, initially tried to hide the car keys under his seat but the robber threatened to harm his friend if he did not hand them over. He was stabbed as he attempted to retrieve the keys before the thief drove off with the car.

Mr Birdi, a British Airways cabin crew member, said Mr Bhurji had been due to act as best man at his wedding in India on November 1. “He was a very nice person, he never did anything wrong. He lived his life and enjoyed his life.”

Mr Birdi said. “For his family and friends, this is just unbelievable. I can’t even think straight, God knows what his family are going through.”