TWO remorseless killers who carried out the “sickeningly violent and unnecessarily savage” attack on Gurmail Singh are starting life sentences.
Muawaz Khalid, 20, and Nabeel Shafi, 18, were yesterday jailed for the murder of the much-loved shopkeeper on February 20.
The pair had been convicted of the killing following a six-week trial at Bradford Crown Court.
Khalid, of, Blackmoorfoot Road, Crosland Moor, gave no reaction as he was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years for murder and 10 years concurrent for robbery.
He had denied both the murder and robbery.
Shafi, of Park Hill, Bradley, protested his innocence as he was locked up for a minimum of 20 years for murder and three-and-a-half years concurrent for robbery.
He had admitted his part in the robbery, but denied murder.
He shouted from the dock: “I’m innocent, you have got the wrong guy.
“I never attacked Mr Singh.”
His family members in the public gallery were ushered from the packed courtroom as they voiced angry protests at his sentence.
Mr Singh, a 63-year-old grandfather of five, was attacked with wine bottles pulled from his own shelves during a bungled robbery at Cowcliffe Convenience Stores at about 8.30pm on February 20.
He died in the early hours of the following morning.
The robbers escaped with sweets, cigarettes and cash.
Judge Mr Justice Henriques said: “The murder was most brutal.
“It involved at least seven blows to the head with a wine bottle or wine bottles.
“It is plain Mr Singh was attacked in two separate locations within his shop.
“His skull was shattered into little pieces. One blow would have disabled him, seven blows took his life away and were certain to do so.”
He added: “I have no doubt that if Gurmail Singh had abandoned his property and money and said ‘take what you want boys,’ he would not have lost his life.
“He was too brave for that. This was a sickeningly violent and unnecessarily savage attack on a man in his 60s.”
Three other men who were acquitted of murder were jailed for their parts in the incident.
Umare Aslam, 20, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, got six-and-a-half years for robbery.
Rehman Afzal, 18, of Jacinth Court, Fartown, received five years and four months for robbery, a charge he had admitted.
Shoaib Khan, 18, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, was sentenced to eight months for assisting an offender. He had driven two of the robbers from the scene following the raid.
Det Supt Dave Pervin from West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major enquiry team (HMET), said: “The people sentenced will have a long time to reflect on what they have done in robbing and murdering Mr Singh.
“I would like to thank the brave people who tried to prevent those responsible from getting away from the scene of the crime.”
Shafi’s father, Mohammad, confirmed to reporters outside the court that he planned to appeal against his son’s conviction.
