A Dunedin man has been jailed for life for the killing of his ex-employee, but the reason for his frenzied attack may never be known.<\/p>\n
Rajinder, 35, appeared in the High Court at Dunedin yesterday, where he was locked up for a minimum of 17 and a-half years after being found guilty of the murder of 27-year-old Gurjit Singh following a jury trial at the end of last year.<\/p>\n
Justice Rachel Dunningham said Rajinder lied to police about his movements on January 28, 2024, claiming he had been taking his wife for a midnight driving lesson at the time of the killing, and that he had never been to the victim\u2019s Liberton home.<\/p>\n
And the lies had continued since the trial, revealing the defendant\u2019s \u2018\u2018arrogance\u2019\u2019, she said.<\/p>\n
Rajinder recently admitted to Probation he had gone to confront Mr Singh because he believed the younger man had been ignoring him.<\/p>\n
He described driving to the house to \u2018\u2018clear the air … perhaps have a cup of tea\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
Rajinder admitted taking a knife with him, but claimed he held it out to the victim, thinking he would be killed.<\/p>\n
Justice Dunningham rejected Rajinder\u2019s account as \u2018\u2018quite implausible\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018It\u2019s yet another lie from you to deflect responsibility for your crime,\u2019\u2019 she told Rajinder.<\/p>\n
The catalyst was more likely the impending arrival in New Zealand of Mr Singh\u2019s new wife, who had earlier declined an arranged marriage with Rajinder, the judge suggested.<\/p>\n
In July 2023, the victim had married Kamaljeet Kaur in India and they were just days away from starting their new life together in Dunedin when the bloody attack took place.<\/p>\n
Rajinder worked for Downer as a fibre-optic cable installer, employing Mr Singh for about a year before the victim broke away to start his own business in September 2022.<\/p>\n
Despite the split, witnesses said there appeared to be no animosity between the men.<\/p>\n
But late on the night in question, Rajinder went to Mr Singh\u2019s home with a pair of gloves and a hunting knife he was caught on CCTV buying just hours earlier.<\/p>\n
The evidence, painted in blood, showed an initial attack inside the victim\u2019s home which spilled outside.<\/p>\n
Mr Singh\u2019s body was found on his front lawn partially decapitated; at least 46 stab wounds were later identified by a pathologist.<\/p>\n
During the melee, Rajinder suffered a deep cut to his own hand and forensic scientists found traces of his blood at the scene leading to the road where he had made his escape.<\/p>\n
Mr Singh\u2019s blood was also discovered in the killer\u2019s car.<\/p>\n
Most damning were hairs found in the victim\u2019s hand, which \u2014 to a near scientific certainty \u2014 matched Rajinder\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Mr Singh\u2019s parents said the tragedy of losing their only son, whom they described as \u2018\u2018gentle, hardworking, loving\u2019\u2019, had destroyed them.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018We feel anger, helplessness, confusion. We feel robbed of our child, our future and our peace,\u2019\u2019 they said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018There is no closure because the \u2018why\u2019 continues to haunt us.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Sitting through every moment of the trial was \u2018\u2018almost unbearable\u2019\u2019, the couple said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018After hearing everything, nothing made sense. Our son did nothing wrong. He harmed no-one,\u2019\u2019 they wrote.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018He deserved time. He deserved happiness. He deserved life.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Singh\u2019s wife, Ms Kaur, said her grief had left her \u2018\u2018emotionally paralysed\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
She was now a young widow facing the harsh judgements of society and she now felt like a burden living with her parents again, she said.<\/p>\n
Outside court yesterday, Mr Singh\u2019s father, Nishan, said he was content justice had been served and paid tribute to those who had supported the family through their ordeal.<\/p>\n
However, he and his wife, Swarn Kaur, now faced an uncertain future in India, having liquidated all the family assets to fund their son\u2019s overseas endeavours.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Now we have nothing. No land. No savings. No support. Nothing to fall back on in our old age,\u2019\u2019 the couple said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Our last hope died with him.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n