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A stalker who carried out a "frenzied" knife attack on his ex-girlfriend after a campaign of harassment was today found guilty of murder.
Gemma Dorman, 24, was planning a new life in Spain when she was stabbed repeatedly outside a Thai restaurant by former lover Vikramgit Singh.
Miss Dorman had been having dinner with her fiance in Lavender Hill, south-west London, in July 2008, when she went out to get cash.
Singh was waiting for her and attacked her at a bus shelter with a 7in kitchen knife as she cried "get off me, get off me", the Old Bailey heard.
Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, said: "It was a brutal attack on a defenceless woman."
One witness described Singh's behaviour as "seeming to be frenzied".
Two months before the murder, Miss Dorman told police he was stalking her and bombarding her with hundreds of text messages.
Her mother had also complained about him and Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, was spoken to by an officer.
Jurors heard he was "infatuated" with Miss Dorman and paid £200 to have a large heart-shaped tattoo with her name in it on his back.
In a letter to her proclaiming his love, he wrote: "Fish can't live without water. I can't live without you."
The 25-year-old, of Southall, claimed in court that he had given her cash totalling £260,000 as well as gifts including jewellery and computers.
Singh said they had planned to set up home together and get married, only for her to dump him when he ran out of money.
He said on the day of the murder he planned to ask her for half his money back but she responded by taunting him over his "small d**k".
Singh admitted the stabbing but claimed he could not remember it.
He denied murder, claiming provocation, diminished responsibility, and lack of intent.
But his defence was rejected by the jury, which found him guilty of murder by an 11-1 majority. He now faces a life sentence.
Reader views (6)
Why didnt the police protect her when she complained of harassment? The Harassment Act was made to help victims stay safe.
- Nikki, London, 16/03/2010 20:00
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No police protection then for this poor lady who suffered a terrifying and terribly painful death? But of course there is enough for the minor royals and Blair. And why does this country keep letting illegal immigrants stay? Couldn't this one at least spend his 'life' sentence in India, rather than in the relative luxury and comfyness of prison here, and in so doing, save the poor old UK taxpayer a little money. And send out a new message of 'zero tolerance' to all others contemplating indulging themselves here.
- Helen, norwich, 16/03/2010 18:01
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Sorry to say this but it's time to bring back capital punishment. Dont say it dosen't work, because executed killers dont repeat offend.
- John Bandey, St Pardoux, 16/03/2010 17:50
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I believe he would be hanged in India. Would it not be better to deport him and leave the Indian authorities to deal with him ? That way our tax payers ( such as they are ) won't have to cope with the burden.
- Jonathan Lloyd, Normandy France, 16/03/2010 17:21
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"Singh, an illegal immigrant from India" - Why was he still allowed to stay in the UK then?
- Dom, London, 16/03/2010 16:15
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More evidence of crime committed by illegal immigrants. He had £260,000 spare to give her, came to the attention of the police but still was on our streets free to kill.
Id like to have a tattoo put on Gordons Brown's back. Kick Me I betrayed the UK with Immigration.
- Patrick Mc Crossan, London Lambeth, 16/03/2010 16:07
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