UK: NRI convicted of attacking police officer-wife

A Manchester-based Indian-origin delivery van driver has been convicted of assaulting his police officer-wife, who later died of cancer, and is likely to face a jail sentence.

Vijay Singh, 37, and mother of four children, was in bed at her house when her estranged husband Wlati Singh, 39, entered and punched in her head and chest on November 3, 2009.

Singh was convicted of assault after a statement made by Vijay was read to the Manchester magistrate's court. The court was told that the couple was married for 20 years, but split in 2007.

In her statement, Vijay said how Singh burst into her house threatened not to accept the 18,000 pounds divorce settlement she was offering.

"He swung at me and punched at the back of my neck on the left side. Then he punched my forehead and chest. I was in a lot of pain after he hit me," she said.

According to reports from Manchester, Singh was also found guilty of assaulting Vijay's 57-year-old mother Kailash Kaur.

Two neighbours saw Singh punch Kaur before he ran into Vijay's house and locked the door. Kaur was left with a cut lip and her bottom teeth were loose afterwards.

"He was yanking her by the hair with one hand and with the other fist he was repeatedly punching her in the mouth," neighbour Terence Moss said.