
An Indian student, who goes by the name of Akash, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in New Zealand for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Gurpreet Kaur, Agence France Presse reported. The body of Kaur (22) was found on a roadside in Waikato on April 10 with multiple stab and cut wounds. Reports indicate Akash (24) in a highly drugged condition stabbed her with a knife after she told him that the baby was not his. After the murder, Akash disposed of the body on the roadside.
Although Akash had pleaded not guilty initially after he was arrested, he confessed to the crime in August.
Judge Matthew Palmer, while delivering the sentence, was quoted by stuff.co.nz as saying the murder was ‘cruel, brutal and callous.’ The fact that Akash knew Kaur was pregnant and still stabbed her repeatedly in the abdomen shocked many.
A report said Akash, who has been in New Zealand since 2013 on a student visa, had a history of ‘psychotic episodes’ and used to take medication for the same.
WATCH VIDEO: BCCI To Cancel India-New Zealand Series, Here’s Why
The life sentence means Akash will spend at least 17 years in prison in the country after which he will be deported to India.
For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App