Husband 'stabbed wife to death' after catching her with another man

Azad Singh returned from work to the flat in Willenhall, Wolverhampton, to find Majinder Virk hiding between his sons' beds.

The 46-year-old repeatedly punched and kicked Mr Virk who was helped to escape by Singh's wife Kulwinder Kaur.

The prosecution allege Singh then stabbed his 40-year-old wife three times using a kitchen knife, with one blow slicing a carotid artery.

A jury has been told Singh admits killing his wife but that it must decide whether it was murder or manslaughter.

Miss Rachel Brand QC, opening the prosecution's case, said: "We say Azad Singh was overcome with anger because he felt betrayed.

"We say this is not a case where he lost control because of things she said or did to him before he stabbed her."

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Singh and Mrs Kaur, known to friends as Rani, moved to the UK from Italy with their two teenage sons in 2016.

In October they moved to a rented tenth floor flat at the Pinnacle, in Gomer Street. Singh worked during the day at Joe's Chippy in Old Heath Road while Mrs Kaur worked night shifts at nearby Slick Stitch embroidery factory.

Miss Brand said Mrs Kaur was having an affair with her colleague Mr Virk, 41, and that the pair had sex in the Willenhall flat on January 18 when Singh rang the doorbell around 11am.

Mr Virk hid in the children's bedroom but was found by Singh who "rained down heavy blows" before dragging him towards the front door.

Miss Brand said Singh further punched and kicked Mr Virk but that Mrs Kaur was able to open the front door and her lover escaped.

The prosecutor, added: "After Mr Virk left only the defendant can say what happened next. He must have gone to the kitchen to fetch a knife and it must be the same time Mr Virk was making his exit through the door.

"The police found blood on the edge of a kitchen workshop immediately above the cutlery draw. It was Mr Virk's blood. There can't be any doubt it came from the defendant's hands.

"We know his wife sustained three stab wounds. We know he left the flat leaving her body on the floor."

Mrs Kaur was stabbed once in her neck, once on her shoulder and once in her side. The latter wound was found to be up to 15cm (5.9in) deep.

Miss Brand added Singh immediately visited family friend Onkar Singh and told him he had "killed Rani."

But when interviewed by police Singh said he had not immediately realised the knife had gone into his wife and that he left the flat not knowing she was dead.

The jury was told Singh has pleaded guilty to a charge concerning the attack on Mr Virk and is charged with murdering his wife.

The trial continues.