‘We want justice’ says family of mum ‘murdered’ in ‘random attack’ as she slept beside baby

The family of a young mum who was allegedly stabbed to death while she slept beside her husband and baby at their home in Hayes have demanded justice

The family of Kirandeep Kaur, 24, who died as she slept at home beside her husband and baby in an alleged random attack have demanded justice and said they have no way to bring her body home to India.

Ms Kaur was allegedly murdered by Daniel Sean James while she was asleep in her home in Hayes on Sunday morning (July 12). She had come to the UK in 2024 to study, but was tragically pronounced dead at 8.26am, having suffered a stab wound to the chest.

Speaking to ITV News, Ms Kaur’s mother Baljeet said: “We send them somewhere safe to study then this happens. We didn’t realise hooliganism and violence is happening there too. We want justice, we want our daughter’s body returned from Hayes.”

Ms Kaur’s brother Gurvinder Singh said the family had found out only on Friday that she had died. He said: “We were shocked, we don’t understand what we can do.”

Mr Singh said the family do not have anyone who could bring Ms Kaur’s body back home to their village in Punjab.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara to help raise money for funeral arrangements for Ms Kaur as well as the repatriation of her body to India and for her family. As of Friday night, it has raised more than £34,600.

Before the alleged random attack, police say James walked through a playing field in Hayes dressed all in black and carrying a large knife. The 46-year-old was caught on CCTV and doorbell cameras approaching three different addresses before coming up behind a man in his 20s in the street and stabbing him in the back, it is claimed.

Minutes later, at around 7.51am, he allegedly kicked at the door of the home Mrs Kaur shared with her husband and three-month-old baby, and broke in while they were asleep in bed.

The husband awoke to the sound of a scream from his wife and saw a figure leaving the bedroom, prosecutor Charlene Sumnall told the Old Bailey on Thursday.

The court heard James, of Mercer Place in Pinner, west London, left the property in Uxbridge Road two minutes later by jumping out of a window from the kitchen-living room area.

Having broken both ankles, he allegedly tried to flee but collapsed after 10 metres.

The Old Bailey was told that both victims were complete strangers to the defendant, who was treated in hospital before being taken into custody.

He was subsequently charged with the murder of Ms Kaur, attempted murder and having a blade.

Judge Nigel Lickley KC set a plea hearing for October 1 and a provisional three-week trial from April 5 next year, while James was remanded into custody.