Gurmail Singh killers jailed for life: Court report and reaction
TWO men were jailed for life today for murdering a Huddersfield shopkeeper they battered to death with wine bottles from his shelves during a botched robbery.
Cowcliffe Convenience Stores owner Gurmail Singh, 63, was attacked for just a few pounds, some sweets, alcohol and cigarettes during a bungled raid at his shop in February.
Muawaz Khalid, 20, (pictured left) was told he must spend at least 21 years in prison by a judge at Bradford Crown Court this morning.
Nabeel Shafi, 18, was given a 20 year minimum term.
There were dramatic scenes in court as the two murderers were sentenced.
Shafi shouted: "That's not right. I'm innocent. I never touched anyone. You've got the wrong guy."
His supporters joined in the shouting before they left the court.
Mr Justice Henriques said he accepted the murder was not premeditated, but the attack was carried out on a vulnerable man carrying out a public service.
He said: "This was a most violent and sickening attack by at least two of you on a lone shopkeeper late at night.
"It is to be regretted that no defendant at any time during the eight-week trial showed the slightest remorse."
Mr Singh died as a result of a "robbery gone wrong".
He "did not meekly hand over his property, his hard-earned money" to a gang of robbers who targeted his shop, the court was told.
Smokers outside the pub opposite the shop realised something was wrong when they saw two of the robbers running from the scene.
Gang member Rehman Afzal, 18, was sentenced to five years and four months for his part in the robbery.
Umare Aslam, 20, received a six-and-a-half-year sentence for robbery.
Shoaib Khan, 18, received an eight-month sentence for assisting an offender, but will be released because of time already served on remand.
