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19/09/2007
Grandmother Jailed For Life For 'Honour Killing'
A grandmother has been jailed for life for ordering the murder of her daughter-in-law in a so-called 'honour killing'.
Bachan Athwal, 70, from Hayes, west London, was told that she must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison for ordering the murder of Surjit Athwal, 27, who disappeared after attending a wedding in India with her in December 1998.
Her son, Sukhdave, 43, also from Hayes, was also jailed for life for Surjit's murder. He was told that he would have to serve a minimum of 27 years for his wife's murder.
Prosecutors at the Old Bailey said that Bachan, a mother of six with 16 grandchildren, had ordered Surjit's death at a family meeting after finding out that she had been having an affair and wanted a divorce.
She is then understood to have boasted to family members that she had got her brother to strangle Surjit and throw her body into a river.
However, it was years before her frightened relatives contacted police about Bachan's claims.
Bachan and Sukhdave Athwal were found guilty of Surjit's murder in July. At sentencing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Judge Giles Forrester said: "The pair of you decided that the so-called honour of your family members was worth more than the life of this young woman.
"You, Bachan, were head of that family. I have no doubt you exercised a controlling influence over other family members."
(KMcA)
Bachan Athwal, 70, from Hayes, west London, was told that she must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison for ordering the murder of Surjit Athwal, 27, who disappeared after attending a wedding in India with her in December 1998.
Her son, Sukhdave, 43, also from Hayes, was also jailed for life for Surjit's murder. He was told that he would have to serve a minimum of 27 years for his wife's murder.
Prosecutors at the Old Bailey said that Bachan, a mother of six with 16 grandchildren, had ordered Surjit's death at a family meeting after finding out that she had been having an affair and wanted a divorce.
She is then understood to have boasted to family members that she had got her brother to strangle Surjit and throw her body into a river.
However, it was years before her frightened relatives contacted police about Bachan's claims.
Bachan and Sukhdave Athwal were found guilty of Surjit's murder in July. At sentencing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, Judge Giles Forrester said: "The pair of you decided that the so-called honour of your family members was worth more than the life of this young woman.
"You, Bachan, were head of that family. I have no doubt you exercised a controlling influence over other family members."
(KMcA)
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