Luton man given life sentence for murder

A Luton man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years for the murder of another man in his own home.

 

Nathaniel Sereaton, 43, strangled 57-year-old Sukhjinder Singh-Gill before trying to set the scene on fire.

 

Emergency services were called to Mr Singh-Gill’s home in Althorp Road, Luton, shortly before 5pm on 4 November 2024, after a builder working on the property spotted his body through a window.

 

Officers attended the scene where the death was initially treated as unexplained but suspicious.

 

The case was later reviewed by detectives from the force’s Major Crime Unit and a murder investigation was launched.

 

In a three-week trial earlier this year the court heard Sereaton, of Milliners Way, Luton, knew Mr Singh-Gill and had been visiting him when he attacked him, strangling him with a power cable before trying to destroy the evidence by setting fire to the scene using kitchen roll.

 

Aware that police had attended the scene, Sereaton called 999 in the early hours of 5 November and told an operator in the force’s control room that he believed he had killed someone.

 

With the help of CCTV operators, he was located by officers and arrested in Luton town centre a short while later.

 

In court today a statement from Mr Singh-Gill's family was read out, saying : "We have to live without our brother which is going to be extremely difficult.

 

"The murder of Sukhjinder has meant he is not involved in our daily life. He’s not been able to see our elderly mother, who is completely discomposed by the death of her son. As a family, we have no choice but to move forward with our lives, but knowing Sukhjinder is not around is going to affect us very deeply.

 

"We’d like to finish off by saying… Big bro, we are all going to miss you so much, especially on the big occasions. We love you so, so deeply that even words cannot explain."

 

Sereaton will serve a minimum of 20 years less the 307 days he has already spent on remand.

 

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr Singh-Gill’s family having to come to terms with this horrific attack.

 

“Mr Singh-Gill was a vulnerable man who could not defend himself.

 

“I am pleased that that this violent and dangerous individual will spend many years behind bars.

 

“This was a complex and difficult investigation, and I commend the team who secured this conviction.”