Man with history of abusing partners jailed for beating girlfriend to death
A man with a history of violence against women has been jailed for life after he punched, kicked and stamped on his partner, before going to bed and leaving her to die.
Ms Riaz’s brother, Balraj Chagger, called her the ‘soul’ of their family, in a written tribute read out in court.
The statement said: ‘We will never know how this disgusting man took enjoyment from doing this to people and to Tarnjeet.
‘If it was not Tarnjeet, it would have been someone else. This man took pleasure hurting someone weaker than himself, a vulnerable woman, one of many he has hurt before.
Raj Sidpara, 50 and his partner Tarnjeet Riaz, 44, had been living together for five months in Leicester and had been on a night out together on May 5.
Once they were home, Sidpara ‘beat and kicked and stamped’ his partner to death in the ‘confined space’ of his bedroom.
Leicester Crown Court heard how he then took off his ‘bloody shoes’, went to bed next to where Ms Riaz lay injured and fell asleep.
He phoned emergency services the next day and was told to perform CPR which was unsuccessful because Ms Riaz was ‘already cold and stiff’.
He claimed that Ms Riaz had suffered her injuries from falling over drunk.
His previous convictions show that he has an ‘established pattern of domestic violence’, including threats to kill a former partner and battery.
Ms Riaz suffered 64 injuries to her face, head and chest, including bruising, a brain injury, and 20 rib fractures.
Learn more about femicide
- On average, one woman a week is killed by a partner/ex-partner.
- Of the 249 female domestic homicide victims between March 2020 and March 2022, the suspect was male in a staggering 241 cases.
- Women's Aid have found that women are over three times more likely to be killed by a partner than by not wearing a seatbelt
- A Killed Women survey found that only 4% of bereaved family members said their loved one’s killing was not preventable at all
- And Femicide Census found that 53% of the perpetrators of femicide in 2020 had a history of violence to women
Prosecutor Steven Bailey said Sidpara caused his partner’s lip ‘not just to be split but to be torn away from the jaw’.
Sidpara has been diagnosed with alcohol dependence since the murder.
Defence barrister Sarah Vine KC said: ‘It was quite clearly his excessive intoxication… which proved to be the gateway to this level of violence.’
Judge William Harbage KC told the court: ‘I accept, on balance, his intention was to cause really serious harm, not to kill, and there is a lack of premeditation. He clearly has a number of difficulties but I’m not satisfied they lessen his degree of culpability or responsibility.
‘The evidence does not suggest he was blind drunk. The evidence in the trial was that he was capable of driving home.’
What to do if you're experiencing domestic abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. And whether you are currently coping with or have made the decision to leave, you do have options.
- If you are thinking about leaving, domestic abuse charity Refuge suggests starting a record of abusive incidents, which might include saving pictures or messages, or making notes of times, dates and details of incidents.
- The next step is to make copies of important documents such as court orders, marriage certificates, National Insurance Numbers and your driving licence.
- In the meantime, identify the safer areas of your home so that you know where to go if your abuser becomes aggravated. Ideally, this should be a room with a phone and a door or window to the outside.
- If you feel ready to leave, start by making a plan for a safe, reliable route out. If you feel safe to do so, pack an emergency bag so that you leave in a hurry if needed.
- You can access a local refuge, either with or without children, for as long as you need to stay. The address is confidential. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) is open 24-hours a day and has all the details of refuges in your area.
- In an emergency situation, ring 999 and ask for the police. If you aren’t able to talk, try the Silent Solution: after dialling 999, listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing or tapping your device, if possible. If prompted, press 55 to let the operator know it's an emergency – you'll be put through to the police.
Read more here.
Addressing Sidpara, he said: ‘You have hidden, I am sure, behind a false claim of having no memory of the incident. You attacked her in a savage and merciless way.
‘Your conspicuous lack of remorse at any stage is quite remarkable.
‘Taz was visibly intoxicated and unsteady on her feet. It is clear from the evidence, not least you blowing smoke from your vape into her face, that you were irritated by her drunkenness.
‘She must have suffered real physical pain before she died. She died at the hands of her partner – someone she should have been able to trust.’
Sidpara admitted manslaughter but was convicted of the more serious charge of murder and was handed a minimum term of 21 years in jail.
‘His actions are vile, inexcusable, and utterly lacking in remorse,’ Ms Riaz’s brother said. ‘She was ripped away from us in a way so violent we cannot begin to understand.’
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