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Pair guilty of radio theft murder Pair guilty of radio theft murder
(20 minutes later)
An Old Bailey jury has found two brothers guilty of murdering a father-of-two after they tried to steal a radio from his car. Two brothers have been found guilty of murdering a father-of-two after they tried to steal a radio from his car.
Balbir Matharu, 54, saw one of the men breaking his van window and tried to stop them driving away in January 2006.Balbir Matharu, 54, saw one of the men breaking his van window and tried to stop them driving away in January 2006.
He died when he stood in front of their car and was dragged for 40 metres (130ft) in Stratford, east London. He died when he stood in front of their car and was dragged along for 40 metres (130ft) in Stratford, east London, the Old Bailey heard.
Albert and Tommy Willett, 26 and 24, denied murder. Albert Willett admitted manslaughter which his brother denied. Albert and Tommy Willett, 26 and 24, denied murder. Albert Willett admitted manslaughter, which his brother denied.
The brothers live at a travellers' site in Clays Lane, Stratford.The brothers live at a travellers' site in Clays Lane, Stratford.
'Boasted of involvement'
Albert Willet, who was driving the car which killed Mr Matharu, told the court he did not mean to hurt the building worker.Albert Willet, who was driving the car which killed Mr Matharu, told the court he did not mean to hurt the building worker.
The court heard his brother Tommy, who was in the passenger seat, urged his brother to drive on even as the victim stood in front of the vehicle and asked them to wait for the police. The court heard his brother Tommy, who was in the passenger seat, urged his brother to drive on even as the victim stood in front of the vehicle telling them to wait for the police.
Crispin Aylett, QC, prosecuting, said: "They were so desperate not to get caught for a trivial offence that they were prepared to commit a terrible one." During the trial Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting, said: "They were so desperate not to get caught for a trivial offence that they were prepared to commit a terrible one."
Soon after the incident Willets had taken their Ford Mondeo to a scrap yard where it was crushed.
The brothers enjoyed the notoriety of what they had done and Tommy Willett had "boasted of his involvement".
Institutional racism
The brothers were arrested six months later while they were detained in Pentonville prison for another matter but did not admit their involvement until recently.
The court heard Tommy Willet had asked the victim to "move out of the way" but when the victim refused to move, he urged his brother to run over him saying "go, go".
Tommy Willet was secretly recorded in prison singing and impersonating police asking his brother "Did you kill Mr Sat-Nav?"
To which Albert Willet replied "Don't know, can't remember".
Following Mr Matharu's murder Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair accused the media of "institutional racism" for giving more coverage to the murder of a white lawyer Tom ap Rhys Price.
The victim's family responded accusing Sir Ian of dragging them into a political row.