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Car radio theft killers get life Car radio theft killers get life
(30 minutes later)
Two brothers found guilty of murdering a father of two after they tried to steal a radio from his car have been jailed for life at the Old Bailey. Two brothers have been jailed for life for murdering a father-of-two after they tried to steal his car radio.
Balbir Matharu, 54, saw one of the men breaking his van window and tried to stop them driving away in January 2006. Balbir Matharu died when he tried to stop them driving away after the theft in January 2006. He was killed near his workplace 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. Drug addicts Albert and Tommy Willett, 26 and 24, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of Mr Matharu's murder.
The drug addict brothers, Albert and Tommy Willett, 26 and 24, described as "low-life", had denied murder. Mr Matharu's daughter, Baljinder, said she could not forgive the "cowardly and despicable" act of the killers.
Judge Christopher Moss, who described the murder as callous and despicable, ordered Tommy Willett to serve a minimum term of 25 years and Albert Willett to serve a minimum of 27 years. Judge Moss told the brothers: "The crime is beneath contempt."
Judge Moss told the brothers: "The crime is beneath contempt. He ordered Tommy Willett to serve a minimum term of 25 years and Albert Willett to serve a minimum of 27 years.
"Balbir Matharu was a decent, upstanding family man whose fatal mistake was to stand up to the likes of you when you tried to steal his property.
Mr Matharu had tried to stop the men from leaving after stealing the radio "You are a pair of career criminals and drug addicts. You have made no contribution to society - you have taken from it."
Two years were added to Albert Willett's sentence to take into account a sentence he is currently serving for robbery and trying to smuggle drugs into prison.
Following the death of Mr Matharu, an Asian building worker, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair accused the media of "institutional racism" and said City lawyer Tom ap Rhys Price's murder was given more coverage.Following the death of Mr Matharu, an Asian building worker, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair accused the media of "institutional racism" and said City lawyer Tom ap Rhys Price's murder was given more coverage.
Balbir Matharu was a decent, upstanding family man whose fatal mistake was to stand up to the likes of you Judge Moss
Mr Matharu and Mr ap Rhys Price, a white man, were killed on the same day.Mr Matharu and Mr ap Rhys Price, a white man, were killed on the same day.
'Cannot forgive' Judge Moss said: "Balbir Matharu was a decent, upstanding family man whose fatal mistake was to stand up to the likes of you when you tried to steal his property.
"You are a pair of career criminals and drug addicts. You have made no contribution to society - you have taken from it."
Two years were added to Albert Willett's sentence to take into account a sentence he is currently serving for robbery and trying to smuggle drugs into prison.
The Willett brothers, who had a string of previous convictions including armed robbery and drugs offences, lived at a travellers' site in Clays Lane, Stratford.The Willett brothers, who had a string of previous convictions including armed robbery and drugs offences, lived at a travellers' site in Clays Lane, Stratford.
They were described by police as "total low-life" who had "£150 heroin-a-day habits".They were described by police as "total low-life" who had "£150 heroin-a-day habits".
In a statement read in court after the verdict Mr Matharu's daughter, Baljinder, said: "His life was taken in a most cowardly and despicable way.In a statement read in court after the verdict Mr Matharu's daughter, Baljinder, said: "His life was taken in a most cowardly and despicable way.
Mr Matharu had tried to stop the men from leaving after stealing the radio
"The people who killed my dad showed nothing for him as a human being and complete disregard to his life, our lives, and anyone who knew him. Such a level of inhumanity I cannot forgive or condone."The people who killed my dad showed nothing for him as a human being and complete disregard to his life, our lives, and anyone who knew him. Such a level of inhumanity I cannot forgive or condone.
"I still see my mum cry and look at his photographs," she said."I still see my mum cry and look at his photographs," she said.
During the trial the jury heard Albert Willett was driving the car which killed Mr Matharu while Tommy Willett was in the passenger seat and urged his brother to run over him.
Mr Matharu was dragged along for 40 metres (130ft) before being run over.
Soon after the incident Willetts had taken their Ford Mondeo to a scrapyard where it was crushed.
The brothers enjoyed the notoriety of what they had done and Tommy Willett had "boasted of his involvement".
They were also secretly recorded in prison singing and impersonating police interrogating them.