Deekan Paul Singh Vig, a man of Indian heritage, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his father in North London by hitting him with a champagne bottle. Vig, aged 54, was found guilty last month after a trial at the Old Bailey court and will serve at least 18 years in prison before being eligible for parole. Wayne Jolley, the Detective Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police who led the murder investigation, expressed sympathy for the family of the victim, noting that they were left devastated by Vig's actions.
The victim, Arjan Singh Vig, aged 86, lived with Vig in Southgate, north London. Emergency services were called to their home in October 2021 due to a disturbance, but despite their best efforts, Arjan was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination identified blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of death. During the trial, jurors heard that Vig had lived with his accountant father and zoologist mother, Damanjit Vig, aged 85, for almost 40 years. The family moved to the UK from Uganda when Vig was five years old, following the expulsion of South Asian community members from the east African country by Idi Amin.
According to the court, Vig had developed a drinking problem during the COVID-19 lockdown and had consumed 500ml of whisky before the incident. At the crime scene, the police discovered 100 bottles of champagne, 10 Amazon delivery boxes of whisky bottles, and an empty bottle of Talisker Scotch on the bed.
Vig denied the murder charge but admitted to manslaughter on the second day of his trial, stating that he had not intended to cause serious harm to his father. However, the jury deliberated for less than a day before finding him guilty of murder.
The tragic circumstances of this case underscore the devastating impact of violence on families and communities. The court's decision to impose a life sentence on Vig sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. It is a reminder that the consequences of criminal behaviour can be severe and long-lasting, not only for the perpetrator but also for their loved ones.
