The family of a young mother who was fatally stabbed by an intruder while she slept beside her husband and three-month-old baby have called for 'justice' following her 'shocking' death. Kirandeep Kaur, 24, was allegedly attacked by Daniel Sean James, a stranger, in her home in Hayes, west London, on the morning of July 12.
Attack and Aftermath
Ms Kaur, who had been living in the UK since 2024 on a student visa, suffered a stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 8.26am. Speaking to ITV News, her 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 learned of her death only on Friday. He stated: 'We were shocked, we don’t understand what we can do.' He added that the family has no one to bring Ms Kaur’s body back to their village in Punjab.
Fundraising for Repatriation
A GoFundMe page established by the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara aims to raise funds for funeral arrangements and repatriation of Ms Kaur’s body to India. As of Friday night, it had raised over £34,600.
Suspect’s Actions
Before the random attack, James allegedly walked through a playing field in Hayes dressed in black and carrying a large knife. The 46-year-old was captured on CCTV and doorbell cameras approaching three different addresses before stabbing a man in his 20s in the back on the street. Minutes later, at around 7.51am, he allegedly kicked in the door of Ms Kaur’s home and broke in while the family slept. Her husband awoke to her scream and saw a figure leaving the bedroom, prosecutor Charlene Sumnall told the Old Bailey on Thursday.
The court heard that James, of Pinner, west London, left the property on Uxbridge Road two minutes later by jumping out of a kitchen-living room window. Having broken both ankles, he attempted to flee but collapsed after 10 metres.
Legal Proceedings
The Old Bailey was informed that both victims were complete strangers to the defendant, who was treated in hospital before being taken into custody. He has been charged with the murder of Ms Kaur, attempted murder, and possession of 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 remains in custody.
