Halfway House murder trial: Jury hears evidence on bloody footprints

Belkar Singh allegedly struck and stabbed his employer Satnam Singh Blugher more than 50 times at Tony’s Diner at Halfway House last June.

Thousands of pounds in cash was missing from the premises when Mr Blugher, also known as Mr B, was discovered.

Singh, 58, of Booth Street, Handsworth, denies murder.

The jury heard that prints from a pair of Lonsdale trainers were found in the victim’s blood on the floor.

Under cross examination Singh denied ever owning a pair of Lonsdale trainers.

David Mason QC, prosecuting, then put it to Singh that another worker at the diner had given evidence that Singh always wore Lonsdales to work. Singh accepted hearing that evidence.

Mr Mason also put it to Singh: “You have told the jury a number of times that there were two men who came in and murdered Mr B and both of these men, who you referred to as the boss and Raja, were involved in killing and stabbing him causing him to bleed a lot. And dragging him across the floor, leaving him for dead.

“Can you help us by telling us why the footprint of the other attacker is not there?”

Singh replied: “I don’t know about that. They both killed him.

“One of them was positioned a little way from the other man.”

The case so far:

• Accused 'told lies to police over fear of reprisals'

• Diner owner 'died in revenge killing'

• Halfway House murder accused had 'overstayed visa'

• Accused says victim was his friend

• Victim's blood found on polo shirt, court told

• Stabbing victim was ‘like Gordon Ramsay’

• Accused is taken ill

• Worker felt ‘uneasy’ about accused

• Argument heard at diner, jury is told

• Stab victim’s son found father’s body at diner

• Owner was stabbed nearly 50 times at diner near Shrewsbury

Singh had previously told the jury that the man called Raja struck Mr Blugher on the head with a chapati pan before both men picked up knives and stabbed him in his presence.

The Indian national was employed to wash dishes and clean at the cafe on the A458 between Shrewsbury and Welshpool.

When he was arrested in Birmingham two days after the alleged incident on June 27, he was found with more than £47,000 in cash that was Mr Blugher’s life savings, the till takings, a receipt for June 25, and the family’s jewellery.

The prosecution claims that it was Singh who was motivated by greed and not two mystery men who killed the Shropshire businessman.

The trial continues.