'I cannot live with this man anymore' - Woman told police before she was murdered at Black Country home, court told
A woman found dead at her home in a town near West Bromwich previously told police she could no longer live with the man accused of her murder, a court has heard.
Paramjit Kaur, aged 46, known as 'Soni', was found with serious injuries by police officers on March 31 at her home, in Swan Crescent, Oldbury, at about 8am.
On Tuesday a statement made to West Midlands Police by Mrs Kaur the dated December 15, 2024 was read aloud at Wolverhampton Crown Court by barrister Mr Jonathan Barker, prosecuting. It related to an incident where the she reported that husband Harminder Mattu, also known as 'Ninder', had beaten her up.
The court heard how he used his hands to twist her leg leaving her struggling to walk following a row and that she had listed a series of other incidents when he was violent to her.
She stated: "I can honestly say that I am terrified of 'Ninder'. I am looking to divorce him. I gave him chance after chance.
"But after last night I cannot live with this man anymore."
Mrs Kaur told officers: "He slapped me on the left side of my face with his right hand. When I tried to get up he put both hands round my leg and twisted it causing me not to be able to walk. Last February, he put his hand round my neck causing me not to be able to breathe.
"In 2023 I was having my dinner on the sofa with Ninder when we argued about him being drunk and us not being in a relationship anymore. Ninder got upset and pushed the table. This caused the food to go everywhere. He pushed me back onto the sofa, he got on top of me with both hands on my neck.
"I rolled to my right and fell on the floor to get away. I felt Ninder put his hands on my neck. He squeezed very hard."
"I couldn't say anything. The pain was too much," she added. "I thought it was a one-of and he would learn, so I forgave him."
Mr Barker told the jury that some time after making the statement she contacted the case officer to retract it.
The jury also heard that Mrs Kaur had moved out more than once due to the defendant's behaviour, but returned each time.
She was found dead at the marital home in Swan Crescent, in Oldbury, and had been was in a 'deeply unhappy' relationship and was seeking to divorce Mattu. He showed up at West Bromwich Police Station, in Moor Street, telling staff that he had killed someone.
When officers arrived it emerged she had died the previous night at around 11pm with a knife found by her side along with her body showing signs of strangulation. Mrs Kaur, who met and married the defendant about four years after arriving in the UK from India in around 2010 was confirmed dead at the scene.
Mattu, aged 50, denies murder.
The trial continues.