Indian-origin girl buried alive by ex-boyfriend in Australia
New Delhi : In a shocking act of vengeance, a 21-year-old Indian nursing student, Jasmeen Kaur, was abducted from her workplace by her jilted ex-boyfriend, Tarikjot Singh, driven over 400 miles (644 km), and buried alive in a remote area of South Australia's Flinders Ranges. The horrific details of the crime were brought to light during sentencing submissions at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The tragic incident took place in March 2021, a month after Kaur reported Singh to the police for stalking. Singh, unable to cope with the breakdown of their relationship, meticulously planned the killing as an act of revenge.
Prosecutor Carmen Matteo revealed that Kaur was bound with cable ties and transported in the boot of a car borrowed from Singh's flatmate. After driving for hours, Singh made "superficial" cuts to her throat, which failed to kill her. Kaur remained conscious and aware of her surroundings until her eventual demise on March 6. Singh then buried her in a shallow grave, forcing her to endure the unimaginable terror of breathing in soil as she slowly succumbed to death.
Matteo described the murder as "not efficient" and emphasized the immense suffering Kaur endured. She stated, "She had to have been consciously suffering what could only be described as the absolute terror of breathing in and swallowing soil and dying in that way."
During the court proceedings, Kaur's family, including her mother, were present to hear the harrowing sentencing submissions. The prosecution argued for a life sentence for Singh, emphasizing the uncommon level of cruelty involved in Kaur's killing. Singh had initially denied the charges, claiming that Kaur had committed suicide and that he had buried her body. However, he pleaded guilty before the trial was due to commence earlier this year.
Evidence presented in court included messages written by Singh to Kaur, expressing his vengeful intentions. One message read, "Your bad luck that I am still alive, cheap, wait and watch, will get the answer, each and every single one will get the answer." Singh's premeditated actions were further underscored by his purchase of gloves, cable ties, and a shovel from a Bunnings store in Mile End, as captured by CCTV footage hours before the murder.
Singh's defense lawyer, in seeking a more lenient sentence, labeled the crime as a "crime of passion." The court is expected to impose a non-parole period next month, although Singh faces a mandatory life sentence.
