The husband of a Sydney woman who died of horrific burns suffered at their home five years ago, has pleaded not guilty to murder.
41-year-old Kulwinder Singh is facing trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court over the death of his wife, Parwinder Kaur in December 2013.
The court heard that Ms Kaur told a triple-zero operator that her husband had nearly killed her moments before she was seen with her body on fire on the driveway of the couple’s Rouse Hill home on 2nd December 2013.
The triple zero call recording was played in the court on the opening day of the trial, in which Ms Kaur can be heard saying: “My husband nearly killed me”.
Prosecutor Chris Maxwell QC told the jurors that a neighbour heard Ms Kaur’s “piercing scream” minutes later, and saw her in the driveway with her body on fire.
Kulwinder Singh was arrested in November 2017. Source: Nine Network
Mr Maxwell said the Crown case was that Mr Singh was responsible for his wife’s death, either because he lit the fire or caused her to light herself on fire.
Mr Singh’s barrister Margaret Cunneen SC, said her client denied that he was in any way responsible for Ms Kaur’s death, including any actions that may have forced her to kill herself.
The defence barrister said Ms Kaur set herself on fire, “not necessarily to kill herself” but for her own reasons… perhaps hopefully to be rescued”.
She said Mr Singh was upstairs when he heard Ms Kaur’s scream and ran down to see his wife.
Prosecutor Chris Maxwell said the couple was in an abusive relationship and Mr Singh controlled Ms Kaur’s wages.
Ms Kaur, originally from a small village in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, married Mr Singh in 2005 and moved to Sydney the next year.
Mr Singh was arrested in November 2017 following investigations by the Homicide Squad of the NSW Police.
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