A murder trial has heard how a husband was 'crushed to death' when an alleged killer 'deliberately' ran him over twice during Diwali celebrations in Wolverhampton. Jashan Singh, 21, is accused of aiming his Mercedes C-Class Coupé at expectant dad Navpreet Singh, 26, near Phoenix Park on Dudley Road.
The prosecution allege that after mowing him down, Jashan reversed the car back over Navpreet 'to make sure' he was either dead or seriously hurt before fleeing the scene 'at speed'. Navpreet's friends rushed him to hospital after the 'violent attack', but he died in the waiting room at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.
Prosecution opens case at Wolverhampton Crown Court
Opening the case on Monday, September 28, prosecutor Timothy Hannam KC said: "Jashan killed Navpreet by deliberately driving his Mercedes car over him, not once but twice, crushing him and causing him to sustain extremely serious internal injuries."
"Although his friends rushed him to New Cross Hospital, where medics tried to save him, Navpreet was pronounced dead in the waiting area," Mr Hannam told the court. Navpreet, who was survived by his pregnant wife, was 'not the sort of person' who was 'out looking for trouble', the court heard.
Alleged attack during Diwali celebrations
Mr Hannam said: "The prosecution say that Jashan aimed at Navpreet and ran him over and then reversed back over him to make sure that he was either seriously injured or dead and then, knowing that he had just done something awful, drove off and fled, crossing a red light at the first junction at the park."
Navpreet died of crush injuries caused by the car running over him. "The injuries to his leg, says the pathologist, are consistent with him being upright before being knocked over by the car the first time," Mr Hannam added.
Jashan, of Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, denies murder and an alternative count of causing death by dangerous driving on October 22, 2025. His co-defendant Mohit Singh, 18, of Tangmere Road, Wolverhampton, denies violent disorder and perverting the course of justice. It is alleged that Jashan and Mohit 'swapped items of clothing to avoid detection and arrest by police' in the wake of the alleged murder.
Events leading up to the incident
Jurors were told that a third man, Prabhjot Singh, 18, of St Lukes Garden, Wolverhampton, admitted a single count of violent disorder ahead of the trial. Mr Hannam told the court how Navpreet and his friends were in a 'good mood' and 'having fun' as they celebrated the festival of Diwali during the evening of Tuesday, October 21, and into the early hours of Wednesday, October 22.
"Navpreet had gone with friends to Phoenix Park to celebrate. They danced, they listened to music, they let off fireworks and they drank alcohol," Mr Hannam said. "These defendants and some of their friends went to the same park."
The alleged murder is said to have taken place during the 'tail end of a fight' at about 1.05am on October 22 last year. 'Disorder' broke out near a bus stop, close to Phoenix Park's car park, before Navpreet was struck by the Mercedes.
Mr Hannam said: "What we can't say with any clarity is what's going on behind that bus stop but during the trial, you will hear evidence from two witnesses who were present there with Navpreet and saw what happened and how it started."
Witness accounts and defence case
Navpreet's brother-in-law told police how the defendants' group started 'chatting' with their group before 'some of them became rude'. He alleged he was 'attacked' and 'knocked' to the ground, with Navpreet coming to his aid before also being knocked to the ground.
A second witness - a friend of Navpreet - said members of the defendants' group 'went for' Navpreet's brother-in-law when he tried to 'shake the hand of a man' in the other group but was 'rejected'. He told police Mohit started the fight, while Prabhjot hit Navpreet with an 'iron rod' as he lay on the ground. Navpreet got up from the ground, walked to the front passenger side of the Mercedes and 'kicked it'.
Mr Hannam said: "He had, of course, just been attacked." He went on: "The Crown say this, the Mercedes was then driven forward, at speed, deliberately at Navpreet, and ran him over."
"Someone shouted that their guy was under the car. The windows of the Mercedes were open," Mr Hannam added. "Then, and this is why the prosecution say this is clearly murder, Jashan reverses the car back over Navpreet's body, in circumstances the Crown say he must have been aware of what he was doing."
Jashan then left the scene, driving through a red light, the prosecutor said. There is 'no dispute' that Jashan was driving the Mercedes which struck Navpreet, Mr Hannam said.
Although his accounts to police are said to have 'changed over time', it is Jashan's case is that he did not intend to kill Navpreet or cause him really serious harm. Instead, his case is that those in Navpreet's group were the 'aggressors', he had been 'attacked' before he got into his car and he 'drove off in order to get away'.
Mr Hannam said that Jashan's 'case is that he did not know that he had driven over Navpreet' - something the prosecution say is 'demonstrably untrue'. Navpreet was 'standing up and must have been clearly visible' when he was struck by the car the first time, Mr Hannam alleged.
The trial continues.
