Baljit Singh murder: Killer Stuart Millership jailed for life with minimum of 25 years
Horror film fan Stuart Millership was today jailed for life and told he must serve at least 25 years for murdering a man on the ninth birthday of the victim's son in a 'sustained and frenzied' attack.
The 33 year old 'completely lost it' when the victim refused to give his £15,000 Range Rover to the defendant in payment for an alleged debt.
Judge John Warner told Millership: "Only you know the detail of what happened and what conversation passed between the two of you beforehand.
"I am sure the Range Rover and money figured large. You got both by killing him.
"You completely lost it and carried out a sustained, frenzied, murderous attack as the victim tried in vain to protect himself."
Baljit 'Bill' Singh was battered over the head up to 20 times with a blunt instrument – possibly a short iron bar like a wheel brace – in the living room of a house in Beeches Road, Rowley Regis where the defendant was living.
The 50-year-old was then stabbed in the neck and either fell or was pushed down the stairs into the cellar on December 23. The body was discovered by police there on New Year's Day, less than 24 hours after Millership had been arrested on suspicion of stealing the Range Rover of Mr Singh who lived in Meadow Road, Harborne.
The pair –had been involved in cultivating cannabis on a 'commercial scale' – argued after meeting up while the victim was on the way to collect his son Roman's birthday cake.
His remains were covered with bin bags, one of which contained the clothing worn by Millership when the attack took place on December 23 last year. Forensic checks revealed the blood of the victim on the hooded top and jeans.
Millership - who had known the victim for 15 years - had pleaded guilty to the murder on the basis that he played the minor role of preventing Mr Singh from protecting himself during the onslaught.
The defendant said the fatal blows were struck after he left the scene by two Albanian gangsters allegedly owed money by the victim. The prosecution insisted that Millership acted alone for personal gain.
Judge John Warner, sitting at Wolverhampton Crown Court, dismissed the defendant's version of events and declared: "His evidence is not worthy of belief. I am satisfied this was a deliberate lie motivated by fear of the truth coming out."
The judge said both men had been involved in cultivating cannabis on a commercial scale and concluded Millership attacked Mr Singh because he believed he was owed a debt by the victim and wanted money and his Range Rover as compensation.
Judge Warner continued: "The defendant had a clear motive for getting into an argument and far worse. He had been telling people he was going to get the car. He wanted it and wanted it then."
Amrit Singh, one of the victim's four brothers – he also has a sister – told after the case how the birthday Baljit's son Roman abruptly turned into anguish and worry when the father did not turn up to the party.
He continued: "Roman will grow up missing his dad every day of his life. How can somebody believe they have the right to rob a young boy of his father?
"The murder of gentle, kind, Baljit, has left a gaping void in our family. His death has broken our hearts.
"The soul of our family has been cruelly ripped out and none of us can make any sense of it."
