Man convicted of double killing

Sukhdev Singh admitted killing the men but denied murder

A 26-year-old man has been convicted of beating two men to death in a flat above a Shropshire chip shop.

Sukhdev Singh, of Drayton Road, Shawbury, Shropshire, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter at Stafford Crown Court.

The pair were found above Mike's Fish Bar, in Shawbury, last December.

Singh had denied murdering Jaswant Singh Bajwa, 30, and Kulwant Singh Dodar, 31, but admitted killing them, saying they had sexually assaulted him.

He told police he had "lost his temper" and hit them with a hammer, the court heard.

Illegal immigrants

The two men died from severe head wounds and brain damage.

Kalwant Singh Dodar had 10 wounds to his head while Jaswant Singh Bajwa had five.

Mr Singh, who is originally from India, and the dead men were all illegal immigrants.

He was arrested on 11 December by police who found him in a Sikh temple in Smethwick in the West Midlands.

Det Ch Insp Dave Morgan, of West Mercia Police, said: "I am very much aware this tragic incident shocked the local community around Shawbury, and indeed, further afield.

"The three men were reasonably well known in the area, with two of them working at the fish bar they lived above."

He added: "Our thoughts are with the victims' families in the Punjab region of India.

"I hope the conclusion of the court case will provide some measure of comfort for them."

Sentencing was adjourned until Monday.