The family of Kirandeep Kaur, a 24-year-old Sikh mother, is seeking the return of her body to India after she was fatally stabbed while sleeping in her home in Hayes, west London. Kaur, who was on a student visa and had been living in the UK since 2024, was attacked shortly before 8 a.m. on July 12. She sustained a stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later.
Her mother, Baljeet Kaur, told ITV that she believed she had sent her daughter to the UK for a safe education and expressed shock at the level of "hooliganism and violence" present. "We want justice, we want our daughter's body returned from Hayes," she stated.
Forensic officers were seen at the scene of the alleged double stabbing on July 12.
Kaur's brother, Gurvinder Singh, said the family only learned of her death on July 17 and expressed their shock and confusion. The family wishes for Kaur to be laid to rest in her home village of Piddi, in Punjab's Tarn Taran district.
A GoFundMe page has been established by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara to assist with funeral expenses.
Daniel Sean James, 46, has been charged with murder in connection with Kaur's death. He appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday and is also accused of stabbing another man, in his 20s, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The court heard that both victims were strangers to the defendant.
Judge Nigel Lickley KC scheduled a plea hearing for October 1 and a provisional three-week trial for April 5 of the following year. James, who spoke only to confirm his identity, was remanded into custody.
