Chilling CCTV shows ‘controlling and abusive’ husband buying the knife he used to stab his estranged wife to death – as he is jailed for life for her murder
- CCTV shows moment ‘abusive’ husband bought knife used to murder his wife
- Satpreet Singh Gandhi, 37, was today jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court
- He had earlier pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing his estranged wife Harleen
Pictured: Harleen Kaur Satpreet Gandhi
Chilling CCTV has captured the moment a ‘controlling and abusive’ husband bought the knife he later used to murder his estranged wife.
Satpreet Singh Gandhi, 37, was today jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court after earlier pleading guilty to fatally stabbing Harleen Kaur Satpreet Gandhi on September 5 last year.
He must serve a minimum sentence of 23 years and four months.
Police said Gandhi killed Harleen because she ended their abusive relationship six months earlier.
Video released after he was sentenced today shows Gandhi in an Asda store in Leeds on August 28, casually purchasing the murder weapon.
Days later on September 5, further footage captured him waiting across from Harleen’s flat between 6.04pm and 6.15pm with a backpack prosecutors believe contained the knife.
Further footage from the same camera showed him leaving the basement flat at 6.24pm and running off after attacking Harleen.
Police said Gandhi killed Harleen because she ended their abusive relationship six months earlier
Police found Harleen unconscious inside the flat with ‘significant blood loss’ and she was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.
After the murder, Harleen’s friends detailed a background of domestic violence and controlling behaviour by Gandhi, but she didn’t report it at the time.
A post-mortem examination later showed she died as a result of a stab wound to the chest.
Armed officers were deployed to trace her estranged husband as a suspect and he was arrested later that evening at his home.
The couple, both Indian nationals, come to the UK as students at the end of March 2021, but had separated approximately six months before the murder, police said.
An impact statement by her brother Ekam Singh Kohli was read out by prosecutor Mr Lumley KC. He said: ‘You took her life in your hands and destroyed it.
Video released after he was sentenced today shows Gandhi in an Asda store in Leeds on August 28, casually purchasing the murder weapon
Further footage from the same camera showed him leaving the basement flat at 6.24pm and running off after attacking Harleen
Police found Harleen unconscious inside the flat with ‘significant blood loss’ and she was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later
‘You have caused pain to our family that no ordinary person could imagine experiencing. The first time she thought for herself, you killed her. She was not a monster like you.
‘You will never be forgiven.’
Senior Crown Prosecutor Emma Covington said: ‘The murder of Harleen was premeditated and horrific.
‘Satpreet Singh Gandhi killed his wife because he could not control her and could not stand to watch her enjoy the life she had made for herself after moving to the UK.
‘He has deprived two young children of their parents in the most traumatic way possible.
‘The prosecution built a compelling case against Gandhi so that when faced with the overwhelming evidence against him, he pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife.’
This is hte moment he picked up and purchased the knife in Asda
Gandhi was caught on CCTV lurking near Harleen’s flat minutes before he killed her
Speaking after the sentencing, Harleen’s heartbroken family said in a statement: ‘It has been a terrible time for the family.’
Detective Inspector Amanda Wimbles from West Yorkshire Police said: ‘Harleen had come to the UK to study and was clearly someone who had plans and ambitions for her future when her life was cruelly cut short by her estranged husband’s murderous actions.
‘She was living separately from him following an apparent background of domestic abuse and controlling behaviour by him and was attempting to move on with her life.
‘It appears that he could not accept this and chose to take her life, as we sadly see too often in abusive relationships.
‘Harleen’s death in such sudden and tragic circumstances has left her family utterly devastated, and we hope they can find some degree of comfort from knowing he has now had to answer for his actions and has been given a life sentence.’
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