Willenhall killer Derek Law jailed for 19 years

A killer from Willenhall has been locked up for a minimum of 19 years for bludgeoning his friend to death with a stone.

Derek Law was found guilty of the murder of 33-year-old Jagjit Singh Villkhu at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Villkhu was attacked on rough ground known as The Summers, between Villiers Street and St Anne's Road, near where he lived with his father in Cemetery Road.

Law, aged 29, bludgeoned the victim to death with a stone by swinging it around in a sock - before taking a photograph of his injuries on a mobile phone.

The attack happened on January 23 this year late at night. Law and Mr Villkhu were drinking friends.

DS Harry May from West Midlands Police said: "For reasons we will never know, an argument started between the two of them."

Mr Robert Davies, prosecuting, read out a victim impact statement from the family to the court.

"We saw first hand the injuries he suffered when we had to identify him" it said."The images will live with us forever.

"We knew he liked to drink but he was never drunk around our mum. Now he has gone there is a massive void in our lives."

Mr Adrian Keeling, defending, said Law was an alcoholic.

"He has to live for the rest of his life with this - that he has murdered one of his true friends," he added.

During a police interview, Law had admitted drinking four cans of lager the day Mr Villkhu died.

Law's defence had said he had come across Mr Villkhu and tried to revive him.

Judge John Warner handed down a life sentence with a minimum of 19 years.

He said: "You did this with a heavy stone.

"We learnt a lot about Mr Villkhu's life story - a lot which was not very positive but the victim impact statement shows a more positive side of him.

"You showed no remorse and sought to throw blame onto others - you are a dangerous man.

"I am satisfied your intention here was to murder him."

DS May added: "The pathologist said he had hit him almost 16 times with the sock. He shows no remorse whatsoever at the death of his once loyal friend.

"Today my thoughts go out to Jagjit's family, hoping that they can take some comfort that justice has been done here today and begin to attempt to rebuild their lives."