“Your life was a lie, you lived a Walter Mitty type of existence' - what the judge said to the 'bullying and greedy' killer who murdered his ex-wife in her Lillington home

The judge who sentenced a man for murdering his ex-wife in her Lillington home described him as a manipulative killer.

Jasbinder Gahir was given a life sentence for the murder of Balvinder Gahir (known as Bally), with a minimum of 28 years before being considered for release.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said that the murder of Bally had been motivated by ‘naked greed and financial gain.’

Their youngest son, Rohan Gahir (23) of the same address, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after being cleared of being involved in the killing but found guilty of perverting the course of justice after driving his father from the scene.

Click here for the full report on the sentencing.

Jailing Gahir, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC told him: “You fall to be sentenced for the murder of your ex-wife Bally, who was brutally murdered at your hands.”

Referring to statements by Bally’s parents and siblings, the judge said: “They are broken by their loss. No words can describe the horror this family has suffered.

“You will live with these consequences as you serve the sentence I am about to pass.

You were at the heart of a section of this family that was toxic. Your motivations were plain, manipulation, money and murder. The case against you displays violence and naked greed.

“Your life was a lie. You lived a Walter Mitty type of existence. You wove a complex web of lies. You continued with your lies right up until the moment you moved away from that witness box. Some of your lies were breathtaking.

“Your pretence was coupled with a violent and vindictive nature. Over the course of 11 years you bullied, belittled and defrauded your wife.”

Judge Lockhart said Gahir set out on a plan to get Bally to give up what she was entitled to, portraying her as greedy, but she saw through him and resisted his plan.

“This was the nemesis for this terrible attack. For you, steeped in greed as you were, this was a disaster which had to be stopped – and the method was to be murder.

“Your clear wish, which became a plan, was that she would be killed and break-in and burglars would be blamed. Revenge and, most importantly, naked greed and financial gain was the motive.

“You took with you a heavy bar. This was to be the murder weapon. You had Rohan drive you to the area, and you went forward with that heavy bar to attack Bally as she lay in bed.

“You Rohan waited in the car and were ready to drive off as soon as he returned. I must be faithful to the jury’s verdict that you did not know your father was going to attack your mother.

“You Jasbinder Gahir went into the house and carried out a frenzied attack, bludgeoning her to death across the course of a number of minutes as she sought in vain to defend herself.

“This attack was utterly brutal. There were no less than 17 injuries, and she died from those head injuries. You could hardly argue that you had any intent other than to kill.

“You left her for dead and made your way back to the car where you Rohan waited ready to whisk him away.

“What had happened in that house was plain to you by the time he returned to the car. You must have seen your father bring back and secrete that weapon.

“By the time you got back to Maidenhead you knew your mother had been battered to death by your father. You chose to side with your father as he sought to clear up evidence of murder.

“What is so very incomprehensible to any human being with an ounce of decency is that you did this to cover up the murder of your own mother, a woman you professed to love. How you will live with that is a matter I cannot help you with.

“Jasbinder Gahir, this was a murder done for gain. You intended you would take the financial advantage from this in some form or another.

“You have not one jot of remorse for this terrible crime. This was an offence of extraordinary savagery and brutality.”

Judge Lockhart told Rohan Gahir: “It could hardly be a more serious offence of its type. Had you not acted as you did, the case presented to the jury would have been much clearer.

“The whole trial might have been avoided because even your cowardly father might have decided to face up to things if the blood of your mother had been found on his clothes.”

Addressing Bally’s family, the judge told them: “My hope is you will emerge at some point from this dark period. I think she would want you all to be strong and to remember her with joy and be grateful for having known her.”

And he added that there should be public commendations for police officers involved in the case at the scene and during the investigation.