Fresh appeal over Huddersfield shopkeeper murder

Father-of-three Gurmail Singh, 63, died after he was found with serious head injuries at the back of his convenience store in the Cowcliffe area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on Saturday evening.

The well-respected shopkeeper had been struck at least nine times in the attack, probably with a hammer.

Today, Mr Singh's family released a new picture of the murder victim as Chief Superintendent John Robins, the commander of the Kirklees Division, said a mobile community contact point had been set up in the area.

Detectives have already said they believe the young men who attacked Mr Singh could live locally.

Officers are looking for four men in their early 20s or late teens.

Two were seen leaving the shop just before the alarm was raised and two more were trapped for some time in the store by witnesses from a nearby pub who became suspicious a robbery was in progress.

These two offenders were brought to the floor by witnesses as they fled but both managed to escape.

Mr Robins said: "We have placed a mobile police contact point on Cowcliffe Road. This enables people to quickly and easily provide information to the police about this enquiry.

"It will be staffed by members of the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and in doing so I hope to provide a visible reassurance to local residents.

"The senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin, has said that it is entirely possible that the suspects are local to the area and are known to others within the surrounding neighbourhoods.

"The smallest detail about this incident or about those involved could help paint a bigger picture. I would encourage anyone who has any information or suspicions to come forward.

"This contact point will not only be an opportunity for local people to provide information, but an easy place for them to ask questions if they are concerned about anything.

"This is a very distressing time for the family and the close community around them. People often have issues that they would like to discuss and we realise that.

"I would therefore ask residents to use the contact point and to speak to their local Neighbourhood Policing Team officers.

"They will be on hand to provide information about what is happening or who to contact if they are able to assist in the enquiry.

"Clearly, we cannot enter into the specifics of what is an ongoing criminal investigation, but people may have individual concerns they would like to speak to the police about."

It emerged that Mr Singh was involved in a similar incident on Thursday when two young men tried to snatch cigarettes and he tried unsuccessfully to stop the pair leaving.

Police believe the same men were involved in the incident on Saturday.

Mr Singh was a well-loved member of the local community who was praised for his hard work, opening his store from 6am to 9pm seven days a week.

All four suspects - the two who left and those who were trapped in the shop - are described as in their late teens or early 20s. They were wearing black hooded tops and black or dark trousers.

It is not clear what their ethnic background is.

Mr Singh came to the UK in 1963 and he leaves a wife, two adult sons and a daughter. He celebrated his 63rd birthday on Friday.