UK: Gay man murdered wife with vacuum cleaner pipe in order to hide sexuality
A former Royal Bank of Scotland employee has been sentenced to life for murdering his wife and incinerating her body to stop her revealing his sexuality.
Jasvir Ram Ginday, 32, had originally claimed that he had accidentally killed Varka Rani, 24, last September by holding a metal vacuum pipe against her throat after she threatened to expose him as gay.
In 2008, Ginday had confided in a friend that he was attracted to men but that he could not tell his family as his mother was very strict.
It later emerged that Ginday was frequenting gay bars and having relationships with men around the time of his 2012 engagement to Varka who was from India.
Jurors at Wolverhampton Crown Court were shown a video said to show Ginday filling up a petrol can he is believed to have emptied over his wife before setting light to her.
Ginday tried to conceal the crime by telling relatives Varka had ended their relationship and she was missing. He reported her alleged disappearance to police.
But detectives discovered a human skull in a garden incinerator.
He admitted manslaughter but denied murder on the grounds that he had not planned the attack.
On Friday at Wolverhampton Crown Court he was found guilty of murder by a jury.
Ginday was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 21 years behind bars, as well as five years for perverting the course of justice which will run concurrently.
Varkha’s cousin Sunil Kumar said: “No words can truly express the sadness and hurt my family and I are experiencing at the loss of Varkha, she was loved dearly by all, she had a great passion for life and doted on her family.
“Varkha attained a masters degree and was driven to make her life a success, unfortunately she fell prey to Ginday who had ulterior motives which Varkha would not have appreciated.
“We would like to thank the police and CPS for all their support during this case.”
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Sarbjit Johal said: “How Varka met her death still remains a mystery, her body was badly damaged but it was clear to the pathologist that she was dead when she was put into the incinerator.
“Ginday got married as a matter of convenience – he tricked a poor innocent girl into marriage but was living a lie. When she uncovered the truth he could not live with it and killed her quickly then tried to dispose of her body and her possessions by burning them. Had another day passed before police attended, Ginday may well have successfully removed all traces of Varkha.
“I hope that this verdict brings some comfort to Varkha’s family who have travelled from India to see justice is brought for their daughter.”
