Sikh man charged with murder after killing student in street stabbing
A jury heard the accused feared he would be attacked with his own kirpan, leading to the fatal stabbing of a university student in broad daylight. The case centres on a confrontation outside a London train station on a Saturday evening in October 2023.
A Sikh man has gone on trial at the Old Bailey accused of murdering a university student in a fatal street stabbing, with prosecutors alleging he acted out of fear of being targeted with his own ceremonial blade.
The killing occurred on October 14, 2023, at around 7:30 p.m. outside Farringdon station in central London, where the victim, identified as Aiden Carter, was approached by the defendant, Gurinder Singh, 38, who lived nearby. Prosecutors allege Singh believed Carter had made threats to use Singh’s own kirpan—a ceremonial dagger worn by baptised Sikhs—and acted preemptively.
| Detail | Prosecution Case | Defence Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Kirpan | Singh’s own blade was used in the stabbing | Carter attempted to grab the kirpan first |
| Fear | Singh acted to prevent imminent attack | No credible threat existed |
Witnesses told the court that an altercation broke out after Carter allegedly mocked Singh’s religious attire and questioned the necessity of carrying the kirpan. Surveillance footage shows the two men arguing before Singh pulled out the kirpan and fatally stabbed Carter in the chest. Singh then fled the scene but was arrested hours later at his home in Clerkenwell.
💡 Pro Tip
Under UK law, the carrying of a kirpan in public is legal if it is sheathed and worn as part of religious observance, but its use in self-defence remains tightly scrutinised by courts.
During the trial, the prosecution played a 999 call made by a bystander moments after the stabbing. The caller, a nurse, can be heard saying, “There’s a man on the ground, he’s not breathing, someone needs to help him now.” Paramedics arrived within six minutes but were unable to revive Carter, who died at the scene from a single stab wound to the heart.
Key Points
- ⚖️ Defendant claims he acted in self-defence due to perceived threat from kirpan
- 🔍 The kirpan was Singh’s own ceremonial blade, not a concealed weapon
- 📅 Trial began on April 3, 2025, at the Old Bailey with a jury of seven men and five women
Forensic evidence presented in court showed no defensive wounds on Singh, contradicting claims he was under immediate threat. Instead, CCTV footage reveals Carter was unarmed and did not approach Singh with any weapon. The defence argues that Singh’s fear was reasonable given the context of verbal abuse and the symbolic significance of the kirpan in Sikh culture.
The jury will decide whether Singh’s actions amounted to murder or if he acted in lawful self-defence under Section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
📋 By The Numbers
- 1 — Fatal stabbing in Farringdon since 2020
- 0 — Prior convictions for Singh in the UK
- 7 — Days the trial has lasted so far
The prosecution rested its case on Tuesday, and the defence is expected to call character witnesses, including Singh’s local priest and a community leader, who will testify to his reputation as a peaceable man. The trial continues.