A man has been sentenced to life in jail for the brutal murder of his elderly mother following a row over the television remote.
Surjit Singh, 39, relentlessly kicked and stamped on his 76-year-old mother, Mohinder Kaur, after chasing her around their family home. The frail pensioner was found by police lying on the living room floor and tragically passed away later that same day on 29 September last year.
The court heard how Singh, fuelled by alcohol and drugs, lost control at their Handsworth, Birmingham home when his mother took the TV remote from him.
A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Kaur had suffered multiple injuries to her head, neck and limbs, with the cause of death being blunt force trauma.
Singh had previously pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 15 years, at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.
In sentencing, Judge Simon Drew KC stated: “It is clear to me from the blood staining around the house that this was a sustained attack over a considerable period of time during the course of which your elderly and frail mother tried to protect herself and during which she must have suffered terribly.
“Immediately prior to killing your mother you had spent several days at your brother’s house drinking heavily and taking cocaine.
“You had then fallen out with your brother and been returned home. The following day your mother criticised you for your intoxicated state and insisted you vacated your shared space.
“When she took the TV remote control that triggered your attack.
“In a rage you pushed, kicked and stamped on her; as you told Dr Al-Taiar you ‘just couldn’t take it anymore’.
“Cocaine and alcohol were both detected in your blood…in the 24 hours prior to your arrest you had consumed 700ml of whiskey, 8-10 cans of beer, and two grammes of cocaine.”
The court was told Singh had become his mother’s only carer following his father’s death in 2014 and handled her shopping, finances and household duties.
Michelle Heeley KC, prosecuting, revealed the defendant had previously moaned to his sister about finding his mother’s behaviour challenging.
She had demanded things such as keeping their food separate in the fridge which had created friction.
On one occasion he had pleaded with his sister for assistance saying “I am going to smash her lights out” and on another had said sorry for having struck his mother.
On November 9, 2023 Singh had also contacted NHS 111 saying he had pulled his mother’s hair and that he was battling with his mental health.
In the early hours of 29 September last year, the defendant had been embroiled in a row in Moseley, Birmingham, with his brother.
Officers were summoned but no action was taken and they escorted Singh back to the home on Clarence Road.
He subsequently left the property to purchase alcohol and a neighbour later heard banging from the address and witnessed him hurling bricks into their garden. Later in the day, Singh’s niece, who had been running errands for Mrs Kaur, arrived at the property.
She was terrified when he became hostile towards her and when her mother later rang the defendant, he chillingly stated: “I’ve killed your mum.
“Come and see her for the last time.”
Upon entering the family home, officers discovered blood on the staircase and banister.
Mrs Kaur was found lying on the living room floor, conscious but gravely injured, and tragically passed away within hours of being rushed to hospital.
Miss Heeley said: “It was not possible to say whether the blows were inflicted by a weapon or how many blows were inflicted.”
When later quizzed Singh said: “I didn’t mean it, I just lost my head.”
Zafar Ali KC, defending, said: “It is accepted when this terrible offence was committed Singh was suffering from a mental disorder.
“In his early life experience within the family home was marred by domestic abuse by his father.
“He did not volunteer to be his mother’s sole carer. Rather the role fell on him.
“The other siblings went on to lead lives on their own. He developed severe alcohol dependency and regularly used cocaine.
“It was particularly difficult for Singh and had his own problems.”