Telford dad had threatened family, murder trial told

A Shropshire man accused of murdering his daughter because of an argument over the TV being too loud had previously threatened to kill her and her mother, a court has heard.

Gurmeet Singh Ubhi's relationship with his wife, Satinder Kaur, and his children Amrit and Harmeet, was strained, a jury at Leicester Crown Court was yesterday told. Miss Rachel Brand, prosecuting, said that a "domineering" Ubhi could not accept his children living their own lives.

She said the 54-year-old resented Amrit having a "white English boyfriend" who served in the armed forces, and he wanted to control their lives.

Ubhi denies murdering his 24-year-old daughter Armit Kaur Ubhi on September 7 last year.

Miss Brand said: "He met his first wife, Satinder Kaur Ubhi, in 1980 when she came from India to visit some relatives in Telford.

"From the very start it appears that this defendant was a domineering husband who wanted to control every aspect of the lives of his wife and, in due course, the lives of his children.

"For example, if his wife should be allowed to go out and meet with particular friends, how she should dress and even where some items of furniture should be placed in the house.

"Eventually the defendant left the family home and he went to live locally with his mother in 1997."

Miss Brand added Ubhi's mother died and he became involved with another woman in about 2001.

By 2004 Ubhi's second marriage was over after he spent time in prison for attacking his second wife with a chisel.

The jury heard how his children made contact with him while he was in prison which led to him moving back in with the family on his release.

Miss Brand added: "He stayed that time only a few months and part of the reason seems to be he could not accept that his children had grown up and they had the freedom to live their own lives."

Miss Brand added: "On Christmas Day 2009, police were called out during a family argument.

"A month before Amrit died there was an argument at the family home in Leegomery.

"During the argument the defendant commented to him (Harmeet) 'I'm at my limit, they keep pushing me, I'm going to kill them'."

The trial continues.