2009: FIJIAN JOURNALIST RAYMOND SINGH JAILED FOR WIFE MURDER
THE murderer of a former Great Yarmouth woman was today beginning a life-sentence.Fijian journalist Raymond Singh has been told he will serve at least 18 years for murdering his wife - former James Paget University Hospital nurse, Wendy, in a frenzied attack which left her with horrific wounds.
The punishment is thought to be the maximum sentence available under Fijian law and had been demanded by relatives of the 39-year-old victim.
The court heard how Fijian-born Singh, a journalist, had attacked his wife with a knife during an argument at their home on the Pacific island.
He had denied the killing but was found guilty of her murder yesterday.
Speaking after the guilty verdict, Mrs Singh's sister Christine Stringer said: “I just felt numb when I heard it.
I was obviously very pleased, but I know that nothing will ever bring her back.” Mrs Stringer, from the Isle of Wight, made an impact statement to the court describing the effect the murder had on her family.
She said: “Wendy's death made me realise what a devastating effect murder has - not just on the victim but on the whole family and friends.
It's a horrific life changing experience - one we will never be able to forget.” During the two-week trial, throughout which Singh smiled and looked relaxed, the 30-year-old claimed he had acted in self-defence to protect himself and the couple's eldest son Kaileb, who was three.
Singh, who was 29 at the time of the murder, told the court his wife had picked up a knife and threatened them.
Earlier in the trial the court heard Mrs Singh was found in a pool of blood with stab wounds to her chest, both sides of her neck, arms, face, nose and head.
Neighbours had heard screams of “please, stop, stop”, before seeing Singh leave the house with their two children Kaileb and Jahaan, who was only a few months old at the time.
The court was told 36 bloody footprints found in the kitchen belonged to Singh who had previously been convicted of domestic violence against his wife when they lived in Ipswich.
It was alleged Mrs Singh's murder occurred after a row over her plans to give money to her 15-year-old son from a previous marriage George had spiralled out of control.
Mrs Singh, who was originally from Surrey but had lived in Yarmouth and Ipswich before they moved to Fiji in 2006, also has a daughter, Claire, 18, from the same previous relationship.
Claire lives in Great Yarmouth.
