A murderer strangled a sex worker before abandoning her naked body beside a rubbish pile and covering her with liquid.
The crime
Tanveer Singh left Shara Millar 'virtually naked and face down in the street' wearing only her bra and a single trainer after 'losing his temper' when she rejected his sexual demands in the rear of his van. The 32-year-old had collected his victim from the street and travelled to an industrial estate where they could have sex. However, during their encounter, the cocaine-fuelled thug strangled her for several minutes for his own sexual gratification.
The mum sustained an 'unusual number' of fractures to her neck, while injuries to her face and head were believed to have been inflicted by 'heavy punches'. Following the killing, Singh callously relocated her body to the street and covered her with AdBlue - an exhaust fluid used in diesel vehicles - in a sinister attempt to eliminate any traces of him from her body. He subsequently attended work the following day 'as if nothing had happened'.
Sentencing
Singh, of Leopard Lane, West Bromwich, was found guilty of murder by jurors after a two-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He received a life sentence, with a minimum term of 29 years, on Wednesday, May 27.
During sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC described the murder as 'both brutal and degrading'. He stated: 'Having killed her, you discarded her naked body against a pile of rubbish at the side of the road.' The judge continued: 'She was worth a great deal more than that.' Judge Chambers stated he was convinced there was intent to kill, referencing Ms Millar's 'unusual number of neck fractures' and Singh's own testimony to the court that he strangled her for 'many minutes'.
The judge declared: 'I find this to be a particularly cruel and tragic case.' He addressed Singh: 'I accept that you did not set out that night to take her life but that does little to diminish the seriousness of what happened.'
Background
The court was told how Ms Millar, 41, was discovered in Woodburn Road, Smethwick, during the early hours of 11 August last year. Judge Chambers stated: 'By August of last year, Ms Millar was trapped in a cycle of drug addiction and having to work the streets to fund it. She was of slight build and highly vulnerable as a lone woman at night on the streets of Smethwick. That Sunday night, having spent the early evening socialising, drinking alcohol and taking cocaine, you went in your work van looking for a sex worker.'
Singh subsequently collected Ms Millar, who guided him to nearby Woodburn Road. Following their arrival along the 'isolated industrial road', Singh took his victim to the rear of his van and shut the sliding doors so she was 'effectively trapped'. Judge Chambers stated: 'I'm satisfied to the criminal standard, I'm sure, that she refused some particular sexual request, probably choking her for your sexual gratification, causing you to attack her and cause her extensive injuries to both her face and head, probably by heavy punches. Having done so, you then strangled her, deriving sexual pleasure from doing so.'
Roughly 20 minutes later, Singh 'discarded' Ms Millar's body 'where rubbish was strewn', leaving her with just a bra and single trainer on. He relocated her clothing and possessions around her body and placed the other trainer on top of her. Singh subsequently doused her in AdBlue before returning home and going to sleep. He woke at around 6.30am the next morning, cleared anything 'incriminating' from his van and headed off to work.
Officers later tracked down Singh and took him into custody, with the defendant giving a no comment interview. Judge Chambers stated: 'He simply waited for the Crown's case and weaved his story accordingly.'
Previous convictions
The court was told Singh had received a caution dating back to 2012 for obstructing police and a further one in 2020 for possession of cocaine. He had a previous conviction for drink-driving but none for violence, prosecutor Rachel Brand KC told the court. The prosecutor continued: 'We do say that Ms Millar was a vulnerable victim because she was a sex worker.'
Gurdeep Garcha KC, defending, presented Judge Chambers with a letter written by the defendant in which he stated 'I accept that I am guilty of murder'. However, the judge remarked: 'I'm afraid, I'm not persuaded there is any genuine remorse in this case.' Singh is 'clearly an intelligent young man, but a manipulative one', Judge Chambers concluded. Mr Garcha insisted the letter was not a 'cynical ploy designed to impress the court', explaining that Singh had contested the murder charge and chosen to go to trial 'because he was not strong enough'.
Singh's 'sense of shame' had also driven his denial, as he was worried about the opinions of others, particularly his family, Mr Garcha added. Mr Garcha continued by stating 'there is a side of Singh's character that is darker' and that this had 'manifested itself' on the day of the killing. He pointed to the killer's lack of previous convictions for violence, adding: 'He is the author of his own fortune. He can have nobody to blame but himself. Ms Millar is entirely blameless in this episode.'
Singh has 'adjusted well to the prison regime' and has become a 'trusted prisoner', having secured employment while on remand. Mr Garcha continued: 'He will have very many years in which to reflect upon and regret his actions. The reality of this case is, having taken Ms Millar's life, he will be in the autumn of his life when he is eligible for release.' Mr Garcha noted that Singh's parents and sister were present in court for the sentencing hearing, adding: 'They are an ordinary, hardworking, law abiding family.'
