Driver Convicted Of Murder After Deliberately Running Over Father During Diwali Celebrations In Wolverhampton

A 21-year-old man has been convicted of murder after deliberately driving his car over a father and crushing him to death during celebrations in Wolverhampton. Jashan Singh faced trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court alongside two co-defendants following the fatal incident at Phoenix Park.

The jury found Jashan Singh guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice. Alongside him, 18-year-old Mohit Singh was convicted of perverting the course of justice, while a third man, 18-year-old Prabhjot Singh, previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder. All three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on 30 November.  

The court heard that the tragic events unfolded during the early hours of 22 October last year at the tail end of a fight between two groups gathered to celebrate the final day of the Festival of Diwali. Navpreet Singh, a 26-year-old married man whose wife was pregnant, was at the park with friends when violence broke out.

Investigators established that the initial violence was led by Prabhjot Singh. When a friend of Navpreet was attacked, Navpreet attempted to intervene, whereupon Prabhjot struck him to the ground with an iron rod.  

After regaining his footing, Navpreet walked over to Jashan Singh's Mercedes C-Class Coupé and kicked the front headlight. In response, Jashan Singh aimed the vehicle at the victim, knocked him down, and drove over him with the front tyres.

The driver then reversed back over Navpreet before speeding away from the scene. Friends rushed the gravely injured father to New Cross Hospital in a vehicle, but medical staff were unable to save him and he died a short time later.  

Following the attack, Jashan Singh fled from Dudley Road to a secluded industrial estate in Willenhall. At that location, Jashan Singh and Mohit Singh exchanged clothing in an effort to alter their appearances and avoid detection.

Jashan Singh subsequently returned home, switched to another vehicle, and drove near airports in Coventry, Heathrow and Stansted throughout the day while swapping SIM cards and mobile phones to evade capture.

Police tracked his movements and arrested him in Bicester on the morning of 24 October. Mohit Singh fled the country following the incident and was detained at Birmingham Airport upon returning to the United Kingdom in January. Prabhjot Singh was arrested at his home address on 4 November.

Throughout the police investigation and subsequent trial, Jashan Singh altered his account of events multiple times. He initially told officers he drove off while Navpreet was still standing, but later claimed he was merely a passenger in the vehicle when confronted with DNA evidence.

When the matter reached trial, he admitted to being the driver but maintained that he accidentally reversed over the victim without realising what had occurred. Detective Sergeant Rob Moir of the homicide unit noted that Navpreet was an innocent family man who was not looking for trouble.

Police emphasised that Jashan Singh acted with clear intent to cause serious harm before taking elaborate steps to avoid identification and capture.