FAMILY and friends of Gurmail Singh packed a courtroom for the first appearance of his alleged killers.
There was a heavy police presence at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday as more than 25 members of the public, including Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan, came face to face with the four men accused of murdering the Cowcliffe shopkeeper.
They sat quietly in the public gallery as the defendants were led into the dock in handcuffs for the brief hearing.
Twenty-year-old Muawaz Khalid, of Blackmoorfoot Road in Crosland Moor, and three 17-year-olds who cannot be named for legal reasons, are charged with robbing and murdering Mr Singh on February 20.
It is claimed the 63-year-old shopkeeper was beaten to death with a weapon, probably a hammer, at Cowcliffe Convenience Stores.
The four defendants, three wearing grey sweaters and jeans and the fourth in a purple hooded top and jeans, spoke only to confirm their names during the 10-minute hearing. The case was sent to Bradford Crown Court, where the accused will appear next Monday. All four were remanded in custody until Monday.
Tensions threatened to boil over after the hearing as a relative of one of the defendants walked past Mr Singh’s family and friends outside the court building.
Words were exchanged and police were called on to intervene but the moment passed without further trouble.
The police have thanked the public for the help they have given to the inquiry and asked for their continued support.
Chief Supt John Robins, divisional commander of Kirklees police, said: “The response by the local community to this tragic incident has been incredible.
“People in and around the Cowcliffe area have provided information which has greatly assisted the investigation team.
“The best way to support Gurmail Singh’s family now is to continue to work with the police during a time when officers remain engaged in their investigations.”
