A man accused of murder allegedly swapped his clothes at a secluded industrial estate and travelled to three UK airports after running over a father-to-be in Wolverhampton during Diwali celebrations, a jury has heard.
Jashan Singh, 21, of Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, is standing trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court accused of the murder of Navpreet Singh, 26, who died after being struck by a white Mercedes C-Class Coupé near Phoenix Park, on Dudley Road, at about 1.05am on October 22, 2025.
Prosecutor Timothy Hannam KC told jurors that Jashan made a 'complicated' journey from the scene to an industrial estate in Tyler Road, Willenhall, where he met others and changed clothing before returning home and switching cars.
Alleged clothing swap and flight from scene
Mr Hannam said CCTV footage would show Jashan and co-defendant Mohit Singh, 18, removing their coats at the industrial estate. Mohit changed his top and Jashan took possession of Mohit's coat before driving home, the prosecutor alleged.
"There is plainly a meeting between them and others at that location," Mr Hannam said. "What happened here is significant because at this location, and you will see it in the footage in due course, Jashan and Mohit each remove their coats. Mohit changed his top and Jashan took possession of Mohit's coat before driving home."
He told jurors: "You are going to have to consider why they did this. You might feel, it's a matter for you in due course, that changing clothes to conceal your identity after a violent incident in which a man has been killed are hardly the actions of innocent people who did not know they had done anything wrong."
Journey to three airports and arrest on M40
After leaving the industrial estate in the white Mercedes, Jashan drove home and left again in a silver Mercedes at about 3.50am, the court heard. ANPR and phone data placed him 'in the vicinity of three different airports' - Coventry, Heathrow and Stansted - in the hours that followed, Mr Hannam said.
The defendant also 'switched sim cards between various phones', the prosecutor alleged. "Are these the movements of an innocent man?" Mr Hannam asked jurors.
Jashan was arrested when the silver Mercedes he was driving was stopped just after 8am on October 24, 2025, on the M40 near Bicester, heading back towards the Midlands.
Prosecution case and defence claims
The prosecution alleges that Navpreet was murdered during the 'tail end of a fight' started by Mohit, with 'disorder' breaking out near a bus stop before Navpreet was struck by the white Mercedes in Phoenix Park's car park. Jashan is said to have 'deliberately' run Navpreet over twice, 'crushing him' and causing 'extremely serious internal injuries' from which he could not survive.
There is 'no dispute' that Jashan was driving the Mercedes when it struck Navpreet, Mr Hannam said. However, it is understood that Jashan's case is that 'he did not know that he had driven over Navpreet', who he claims was the 'aggressor'.
It is also understood that Jashan's case is that he went to the industrial park and changed his clothing 'because he felt he was being followed and felt threatened'. But Mr Hannam alleged he was 'not being followed', adding: "CCTV makes that clear."
Instead, Navpreet's group rushed him to hospital in an Audi 'knowing that he was very, very seriously injured', the prosecutor said. Medics battled to save his life but he was pronounced dead in the waiting area at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.
Co-defendants and ongoing trial
Jashan denies murder and an alternate count of causing death by dangerous driving. His co-defendant Mohit Singh, 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' following the alleged murder.
A third man, Prabhjot Singh, 18, of St Lukes Garden, Wolverhampton, admitted a single count of violent disorder ahead of the trial. Mohit left the UK and went to India after the alleged murder, jurors were told, and was arrested by police in Birmingham when he arrived back on a flight from India on January 24, 2026.
During the investigation, Mohit's jacket was found by police 'hanging on the washing line' at Jashan's home, while Jashan's jacket has never been found, Mr Hannam added. The trial continues.
