Father and son jailed over family feud attack on brother-in-law
A furious Lithuanian who attacked his brother-in-law with a metal bar when a family feud exploded into violence was starting a six-year jail sentence today.
Arturas Aleksandravicius was helped by his 59-year-old father Mykolas in the attack on Bhupinder Singh who was left with a shattered cheek bone and injuries to his nose and an eye socket, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The victim – partner of mother-of-two Fatima, who is the sister of 27-year-old Arturas and daughter of Mykolas – was confronted by the pair when he returned to the house they all shared in Cartwright Street, All Saints, Wolverhampton.
He was with his three-year-old son and refused to talk to the pair because both appeared to have drunk too much.
“He believed they were intoxicated and told them to wait until the morning,” said Miss Lisa Hancox, prosecuting.
Mykolas grabbed Mr Singh from behind and held onto him while the victim was hit four times in the face and chest by the metal push bar wielded by Arturas, continued the lawyer.
He was dragged to the floor and repeatedly punched by the younger attacker whilst being held down by the older man as the terrified three-year-old watched in helpless horror.
The thugs then concocted a story in a bid to cover their tracks and ordered Fatima to ring the police, claiming she had been attacked by her partner.
As a result, badly-injured Mr Singh was arrested but police were not convinced they had been told the truth because she had no injuries and maintained she had struck him in self defence.
Their doubts were confirmed after the victim had been treated in hospital and was able to tell them exactly what had happened. The father and son were arrested the following day but both denied attacking the man.
The reason for the family dispute was not disclosed in court but there was a suggestion it stemmed from Arturas – who arrived in this country with his father in 2014 to live with his sister, her partner and their two children – being the only person in the household to have a job and having to financially support the whole family.
Mr Singh now lives elsewhere.
The attackers, who were both of previous good character, finally admitted their roles on the day of their trial with Arturas pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and his father admitting causing grievous bodily harm without intent on August 13, 2016.
They were jailed for six years three months and 18 months respectively.
Judge Peter Barrie told them: “You both lost your self control and, for no good reason, set upon Mr Singh. I understand there could be tensions but there was absolutely nothing to excuse this violencet.”
