Halfway House murder accused had 'overstayed visa'

Belkar Singh, 58, allegedly struck and stabbed his employer Satnam Singh Blugher at Tony's Diner at Halfway House between Shrewsbury and Welshpool in June last year.

Giving evidence in his trial Singh told the jury that Mr Blugher, known as Mr B, treated him like a friend.

Speaking through an Indian Punjabi interpreter the defendant said he used to work as a bus conductor in India, but came to the UK in 2005 on a one-month visitors' visa.

He said he first met his employer at a Sikh temple in Birmingham in 2007 and that Mr Blugher had recognised him from his visits back home.

"I told him I was looking for work. He said he recognised me from India when I was giving out tickets on the bus. His village was next to mine. He said he was looking for someone to work for him in Shrewsbury.

"I only stayed initially for six months. I was washing up at the back," Singh said.

He told the jury that he was present at the premises in 2007 when Mr Blugher rowed with another Asian employee who had been drinking.

Singh told the court that the proprietor disapproved of this.

He said: "I heard the argument. They were shouting. The other person was saying, "it's up to me what I do in my free time". It was verbal. After that he let the boy go."

Singh added: "He had a hot temper and if someone made a mistake he would tell them off. He would say to me, 'Mr Singh you're a really good worker'."

Singh, is accused of killing the victim in a brutal attack that the prosecution claim was motivated by greed.

When the defendant, of Booth Street, Handsworth, was arrested he had about £47,000 believed to belong to Mr Blugher in his bags.

Singh denies murder and claims two other men were responsible.The trial continues.