Five robbers accused of murdering Huddersfield retailer Gurmail Singh beat him to death with bottles from his own shelves, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Adrian Waterman QC told Bradford Crown Court: "Gurmail Singh did not meekly hand over his property, his hard-earned money. When he resisted the robbers they used serious violence on him, grabbing the nearest weapon to hand, which happened to be bottles of wine he sold in the shop. He was hit on the head. It was that which caused his death."
The five Umare Aslam, 20; Muawaz Khalid, 20; Shoaib Khan, 18; Nabeel Shafi, 18; and Rehman Afzal, 18 all deny murder.
The jury also heard how local residents tried to protect the popular shopkeeper when they realised his Cowcliffe Convenience Store was being raided on February 20 this year. They disturbed two of the robbers as they took cigarettes and bottles of spirits, and attempted to prevent them escaping.
Afzal and Shafi have pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery. The murder trial is expected to last several weeks.
Prosecutor Adrian Waterman QC told Bradford Crown Court: "Gurmail Singh did not meekly hand over his property, his hard-earned money. When he resisted the robbers they used serious violence on him, grabbing the nearest weapon to hand, which happened to be bottles of wine he sold in the shop. He was hit on the head. It was that which caused his death."
The five Umare Aslam, 20; Muawaz Khalid, 20; Shoaib Khan, 18; Nabeel Shafi, 18; and Rehman Afzal, 18 all deny murder.
The jury also heard how local residents tried to protect the popular shopkeeper when they realised his Cowcliffe Convenience Store was being raided on February 20 this year. They disturbed two of the robbers as they took cigarettes and bottles of spirits, and attempted to prevent them escaping.
Afzal and Shafi have pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery. The murder trial is expected to last several weeks.
No comments yet