The family of Kirandeep Kaur, a 24-year-old mother allegedly stabbed to death while asleep beside her husband and three-month-old baby in their Hayes home, have demanded justice and appealed for help to bring her body back to India.
Alleged random attack
Ms Kaur, who came to the UK in 2024 to study, was pronounced dead at 8.26am on Sunday, July 12, after suffering a stab wound to the chest. Prosecutors say Daniel Sean James, 46, broke into her home in Uxbridge Road while she and her family were asleep. The husband awoke to a scream and saw a figure leaving the bedroom.
James is also accused of stabbing a man in his 20s in the street minutes earlier. He allegedly walked through a playing field in Hayes dressed in black, carrying a large knife, and was captured on CCTV approaching three addresses before attacking the man from behind.
Family's plea for justice
Speaking to ITV News, Ms Kaur's mother Baljeet said: "We send them somewhere safe to study then this happens. We didn't realise hooliganism and violence is happening there too. We want justice, we want our daughter's body returned from Hayes."
Her brother Gurvinder Singh said the family only learned of her death on Friday and were "shocked." He added they have no one to bring her body home to their village in Punjab.
Fundraiser for repatriation
A GoFundMe page set up by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara has raised more than £34,600 as of Friday night to cover funeral arrangements and repatriation of Ms Kaur's body to India.
Legal proceedings
James, of Mercer Place in Pinner, west London, was charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a blade. He allegedly fled the scene by jumping out of a window, breaking both ankles, and collapsed after 10 meters. The Old Bailey heard both victims were strangers to him.
Judge Nigel Lickley KC set a plea hearing for October 1 and a provisional three-week trial from April 5 next year. James was remanded into custody.
