Posted on 05/07/2004 7:04:03 AM PDT by freepatriot32
The killer of a pregnant woman may have been paid by members of her family, her husband told the Old Bailey today.
Anita Gindha, 22, was strangled in front of her 19-month-old son two weeks before she had been due to give birth to a baby girl.
Three years earlier, Anita had caused anger among her family when she ran away from her Glasgow home to marry Kashmir Ralh.
Mr Ralh told the court: Anita was scared that her family would trace her and kill her or me.
A cousin had told him that on two occasions, people had come looking for them.
He said: There were some men in a car. they had some money in a briefcase. They were searching for me and they were offering money to find out about our whereabouts.
Anitas aunt and uncle had money and could do anything, he said.
Asked by defence counsel Richard Ferguson QC if they could have paid someone to kill Anita, he replied: I have no idea how much money they have but it is possible.
Palwinder Dhillon, 65, of Redwood Road, Walsall, West Midlands, denies murdering Anita Gindha in February, last year.
Kashmir arrived at their Gainsborough Avenue, Manor Park, east London, home to find her strangled in the living room and his son crying by the body.
The prosecution told the jury that it did not have a concrete motive but said Anitas jewellery had been stolen by the killer.
Builder Kashmir said Dhillon had been employed by him on a casual basis but might have held a grudge or been aware of cash he kept at home.
Kashmir told the court that Anitas aunt had intended her to marry someone from India, but changed her mind after starting a telephone friendship with him.
After she ran away, the aunt was quite abusive in telephone messages.
In one, she said: Even if I have to sacrifice my own son, I will not let you alone.
Two days before the wedding, Anita had complained to police and was given a number to ring if she needed help.
There had been between 30 40 messages during the wedding at a Sikh temple.
Kashmir told the court he and his wife had then developed a good relationship with her mother, step-father and sister.
Her father had returned to India but they had resumed telephone conversations.
At the beginning, it was very formal but as time progressed, it became more comfortable, he said.
But relations were still cool with Anitas aunt. He said: Anita tried to phone her to inform her about our son. She put the phone down.
Anita had gone on holiday to India a few months after the babys birth. She came back two or three weeks later because the baby was unwell.
He said: When she came back she was normal but she was not very happy going out and she used to feel afraid going out. She didnt mention any reason why she felt like this.
Dhillon was arrested six months after the murder and allegedly changed his appearance by getting rid of his turban, beard and long hair.
He was said to have been seen leaving the house after neighbours heard screams and some of his hair was found clutched in Anitas hand.
The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.
Trying to convert us to their "enlightened" ways.
The Sikh religion is not quite as peaceful as Hinduism, though it's probably a bit more balanced than extreme Islam is. (Still just another false religion as far as I'm concerned, but here's some background info that a quick google search turned up for add'l info)
Sikh Violence against Hindus
Violence in Kashmir (between Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims)
Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.