Santa Rosa Man Convicted Of Murdering Sister-In-Law

India-West News Desk

SANTA ROSA, CA -A Sonoma County jury has convicted a Santa Rosa man of second-degree murder in the 2022 stabbing death of his sister-in-law, concluding a trial that focused on whether the killing had been premeditated.

After four days of deliberations, the jury returned its verdict March 3 in Sonoma County Superior Court before Judge Kenneth Gnoss, finding Varinder Singh guilty of killing Kuljeet Kaur. Jurors also convicted Singh of a misdemeanor count of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse.

Singh faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 28.

Jurors told The Press Democrat after the verdict that while there was no dispute Singh was responsible for Kaur’s death, they were divided on whether the attack had been planned, leading to the second-degree murder conviction rather than first-degree murder.

The fatal attack occurred April 25, 2022, in a home shared by Singh, his wife and the victim. Authorities said the confrontation began inside the residence and continued outside, where neighbors witnessed portions of the assault.

According to prosecutors, Singh used an eight-inch kitchen knife to stab Kaur 37 times.

During the altercation, Singh also pushed his wife, resulting in the misdemeanor charge, prosecutors said.