Oldbury Husband Receives Life Sentence for Murdering Wife Amid Divorce Proceedings
Harminder Mattu, aged 51, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years after being convicted of murdering his wife, Paramjit Kaur, in their Oldbury home. The sentencing took place at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, April 2, following a trial where Mattu denied the brutal crime despite initially surrendering to police.
A Marriage Marred by Violence and Control
The court heard that Mattu, described as having a 'violent temper', became 'obsessed with divorce' as his marriage deteriorated. His wife, Paramjit Kaur, known as Soni, had been 'deeply unhappy' for many years due to Mattu's drunken behaviour and aggression. She filed for divorce on January 31 last year, seeking to end their nearly decade-long union, but Mattu 'manipulated' her into staying, leaving her feeling 'trapped'.
Judge John Butterfield KC noted that Ms Kaur realised her marriage had 'ran its course', but Mattu 'played on her emotions' and 'ramped up the pressure to remain married', even involving her family to convince her to stay. The judge stated, "In the end, you were simply unwilling to let her make a bid for freedom and the punishment you exacted was to let her die at your hands."
The Fatal Attack and Aftermath
On the day of the killing, an 'intoxicated' Mattu throttled his wife for at least 15 seconds before stabbing her in the neck, leaving her lifeless body on the floor. Hours later, he walked into West Bromwich police station and 'calmly' declared, "I'm here to surrender." Despite this apparent confession, he later denied the murder during the trial, which concluded with his conviction in March.
Judge Butterfield highlighted Mattu's 'controlling' behaviour during the marriage, noting he 'had the tendency to become aggressive towards her' when drinking. The judge added, "However, when you throttled her on this occasion, you did not stop until she was dead."
Background and Defence Claims
Paramjit Kaur, aged 46, moved from Punjab, India, to the UK between 2010 and 2011. She met Mattu in 2014, and they married in Sandwell the following year. During the trial, it was revealed she had initially left the marital home but returned after Mattu made 'threats to take his own life', according to prosecutor Jonathon Barker.
In defence, Amjad Malik KC, assisted by a Punjabi interpreter, claimed Mattu 'truly loved' his wife. A friend of 20 years described him as 'calm', 'trustworthy', and 'completely reliable'. Mr Malik added that when asked about his wife's death, Mattu 'broke down', but this did not sway the jury's decision.
This case underscores the tragic consequences of domestic violence and control within relationships, leading to a life sentence for the perpetrator.
