Shopkeeper 'hit seven times in fatal attack'

HUDDERSFIELD shopkeeper Gurmail Singh was hit over the head at least seven times during an attack which claimed his life earlier this year.

Home Office pathologist Professor Peter Vanesis yesterday outlined details of the injuries suffered by the 63-year-old who died during a robbery at the Cowcliffe Convenience Stores in February.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court was shown computer-generated images of the injuries suffered by Mr Singh which included multiple fractures to his skull probably caused by a bottle.

Professor Vanesis said one of the blows to the crown of his head had resulted in a depressed fracture while another area of head injury suggested repeated blows to the same area.

Some of the blows had left curved fractures which suggested the use of a blunt object such as the base of a bottle.

Professor Vanesis agreed that Mr Singh had suffered at least seven blows to the head.

During cross-examination Professor Vanesis said he could not say whether one or more than one weapon had been used.

The jury has heard Mr Singh died after allegedly being bludgeoned during the robbery at his shop on Cowcliffe Hill Road.

The men on trial are: Umare Aslam, 20, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton; Muawaz Khalid, 20, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Crosland Moor; Shoaib Khan, 18, of Calton Street, Hillhouse; Nabeel Shafi, 18, of Park Hill, Bradley; and Rehman Afzal, 18, of Jacinth Court, Fartown.

It is alleged they plotted together to steal from Mr Singh but only four of them went to the shop. All five have denied murder.

Afzal and Shafi have pleaded guilty to robbery, a charge denied by the other three. Khan has admitted a charge of assisting an offender.