Shilesh Patel (left), a 26-year old university graduate from Wellingborough, was jailed for life after being found guilty of the murder of David Haynes (below) (21). The verdict was announced at Northampton Crown Court on 18th February 2008. He will serve a minimum of 18 years.

The incident occurred after an altercation in a nightclub in Wellingborough Town Centre on 26th August 2008. David Haynes, the victim, was celebrating his 21st birthday.

The court heard that an argument developed in the nightclub, after David Haynes and other friends accused Shilesh Patel of mocking their deaf friend, Shane McLeod (24). This led to pushing, but the situation was apparently defused. However outside the nightclub, Shilesh Patel was surrounded by a group of about thirty people and punched several times by friends of Shane McLeod.

Shilesh Patel was enraged, and with wounded pride went home and returned to the scene with a 12-inch carver knife. He was accompanied by his friends Sandeep Phull (22) and Nimesh Patel (24), who were also accused of murder but were acquitted after the jury reached a mixed verdict on their roles in the incident.

Outside Delight Kebab, a popular fast food restaurant in the town, recognising Shilesh Patel from the earlier fight, David Haynes walked towards him, a mistake which cost him his life. He was stabbed in the stomach, and a single wound led to his death 12 hours later. After Mr Haynes was stabbed, a large group of his friends chased Shilesh Patel and his co-defendents. Nimesh Patel was cornered and beaten unconscious. Police later found Shilesh Patel hiding is some bushes and took him to the police station where they charged him with murder.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice McKay said to Shilesh Patel: "You took the life of a young man of good character with his whole life before him on his 21st birthday." Friends and family of the victim cheered in court when the sentence was announced, while the family of Shilesh Patel, including his girlfriend who he intended to marry, wept.

His barrister, Jeremy Gold, said: "Shilesh has completed a degree in product design and was looking forward to a perfectly normal adult life. He was planning to marry his girlfriend. All of that is going to have to go on hold now."

After examining extensive CCTV footage on the night, Judge Mr Justice Mackay berated the police for their lack of presence in the town centre on the night in question. The judge said: “To have no police presence when a number of people are decanting into Wellingborough in the state these men were in is a recipe for trouble.” He said their absence was all the more indefensible “particularly at a time when we are told there’s more police on our streets than ever.

Hindu Voice comments: Our hearts go out to all the young lives which are destroyed, and all the families who suffer due to mindless trivial incidents such as these.

Related article: Issues of violence amongst Hindus in the UK