Halfway House murder trial: Accused says victim was his friend
A man repeatedly denied murdering his boss at a diner near Shrewsbury when questioned by police and instead described him as a “friend” who would give him money if he needed it, a court heard.
Owner Satnam Singh Blugher, 67, was found dead on the kitchen floor of Tony’s Diner in Halfway House, between Shrewsbury and Welshpool, by his son on June 26 last year.
Employee Belkar Singh, who was found with £47,000 in cash belonging to the victim, denies murdering him.
At Stafford Crown Court yesterday, prosecutor Nicholas Tatlow said Singh told police he could not account for where most of the money had come from but said Mr Blugher had loaned him £1,000 to pay for a solicitor.
Mr Tatlow said: “He said he had not stolen the money and had not killed Satnam to get the money.”
He said when asked about money found in a suitcase, Singh said he did not know how the money got there and that it was not his.
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Mr Tatlow said that in one interview Singh had told police: “It wasn’t me who caused the injuries. He was a very good man. He was very helpful man.”
The court heard he went on to tell police Mr Blugher was his friend, adding: “I’m sorry sir, I don’t know anything, how he died, who caused it, I don’t know.”
He told police Mr Blugher would give him money if he needed help.
Mr Tatlow said Singh told police he had last seen Mr Blugher the day before he was found dead.
Forensic scientist Stephen Paddock also gave evidence at Singh’s trial yesterday.
He told the court he was unable to determine whether Singh had assaulted Mr Blugher or whether he had simply been present.
Mr David Mason QC, also prosecuting, said Singh now claimed he had been present when Mr Blugher was attacked by two men at the diner.
In cross examination, Mr Paddock admitted that blood stains found on a polo shirt, thought to have been worn by Singh at the time, could have got there in a number of ways.
He said spots of blood found on the back of the top could have been caused by someone else flicking blood off a knife and a blood stain on the front of the polo shirt could be accounted for if someone covered in blood had touched him.
Mr Blugher had been stabbed and struck up to 50 times.
The prosecution alleges that 58-year-old Singh, of Booth Street, Birmingham, was motivated by greed and attacked the victim for money.
The trial continues.
