Bay Area man found guilty of murdering sister-in-law he stabbed 37 times

"Following Tuesday's hearing, jurors told The Press Democrat no one doubted Singh killed Kuljeet Kaur but they did not all agree premeditation was involved. This factored into a guilty verdict of second-degree murder over first-degree murder. Jurors, who began deliberating Feb. 25, acknowledged they spent a long time discussing the case."

"In his closing arguments Feb. 24, Sonoma County District Attorney Jason Riehl balked at Singh's version of events. He emphasized among other things Singh had multiple opportunities to calm down and end the attack, but instead continued stabbing Kaur even when approached by his wife and neighbors. He's making eye contact with people coming to assist and he tells them to go away, Riehl told jurors."

"Singh's defense attorney, Joseph Bisbiglia, argued his client should at most be found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, which would have carried a significantly lighter sentence. Singh's trial began earlier this month in Sonoma County Superior Court and a verdict hinged on whether jurors believed Singh's claim the killing resulted from months of mistreatment and a fear he'd be killed by Kaur and his wife."

Varinder Singh was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Kuljeet Kaur after a four-day jury deliberation. Singh stabbed Kaur 37 times with an 8-inch kitchen knife during an attack that began inside their home and continued outside in front of neighbors. He was also convicted of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse. Jurors unanimously agreed Singh committed the killing but disagreed on whether premeditation was involved, leading to the second-degree rather than first-degree murder conviction. Singh's defense claimed months of mistreatment and fear justified his actions, but prosecutors argued he had multiple opportunities to stop the attack. Singh faces 15 years to life in prison at sentencing on April 28.

Read at www.pressdemocrat.com