Man convicted of murder after running over Wolverhampton father-to-be following Diwali celebrations

A 21-year-old man has been convicted of murder after driving at a man and reversing over him in Wolverhampton on the last night of Diwali.

Jashan Singh, of Cannock Road, was found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Navpreet Singh, 26, died after the incident at Phoenix Park, in the early hours of 22 October last year. He had been due to become a father for the second time.

Two other men were also convicted or admitted offences linked to the night. Mohit Singh, 18, of Tangmere Road, was convicted of perverting the course of justice. Prabhjot Singh, 18, of St Luke’s Garden, pleaded guilty to violent disorder before the trial. All three will be sentenced on 30 November.

Police said Navpreet had been at the park with friends to mark the final day of the Festival of Diwali when a second group, including Jashan Singh, also arrived.

At around 1am, a disagreement broke out between members of the two groups and one of Navpreet’s friends was attacked. Police said the violence was led by Prabhjot Singh, an associate of Jashan Singh.

When Navpreet went to his friend’s aid, he was assaulted and struck with an iron rod by Prabhjot Singh. After getting back to his feet, he approached Jashan Singh’s Mercedes and kicked the front headlight.

Jashan Singh then drove into him, going over him with the front tyres before reversing back over him and driving away.

Navpreet was taken to hospital by friends but died despite the efforts of medics.

Detectives from the force’s homicide unit launched an immediate investigation. They established that Jashan Singh drove to a secluded spot on an industrial estate in Willenhall, where he and Mohit Singh swapped clothes in an attempt to avoid matching descriptions of those involved.

Jashan Singh returned home at around 3.25am and switched to another vehicle. Phone analysis traced his movements near Coventry, Heathrow and Stansted airports during the day, and police said he swapped SIMs and phones to conceal his whereabouts. He was arrested in Bicester on the morning of 24 October.

Prabhjot Singh was arrested at his home on 4 November. Mohit Singh, who left the country after the incident, was detained at Birmingham Airport when he returned to the UK in January.

Police said Jashan Singh gave differing accounts as the case progressed. In interview, he first claimed he had driven off while Navpreet was still standing and fighting others. After being confronted with DNA evidence showing his car had hit Navpreet, he said he had been in the Mercedes as a passenger.

At trial, he admitted being the driver but claimed he had accidentally reversed over Navpreet and left without realising what had happened.

Detective Sergeant Rob Moir, of the homicide unit, said: “Navpreet was a married man with a pregnant wife and not someone who was going out looking for trouble.

“Sadly, there was violence that evening with Mohit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Jashan Singh the aggressors.

“Jashan Singh knew exactly what he was doing and was intent on causing serious harm. He then drove off and made efforts to avoid being identified and captured.

“Through our enquiries, which included speaking to witnesses, reviewing CCTV and analysing phone records, we were able to establish what happened and the movements afterwards.

“These men will rightly be punished for their actions and we only hope this helps bring some form of closure for Navpreet’s loved ones, and our thoughts remain with them.”