SHE LEFT INDIA CHASING A BETTER FUTURE… HER FAMILY NEVER IMAGINED THEY WOULD BE BRINGING HER HOME THIS WAY
The family of a 24-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed inside her west London home has spoken publicly for the first time, describing her as the heart of their family and a young woman whose dream was to build a better future for those she loved.
Kirandeep Kaur, originally from Punjab, India, died after she was allegedly attacked while sleeping beside her husband and their three-month-old baby in Hayes on 12 July.
Now, thousands of miles away, her younger sister says the family is struggling to come to terms with a loss they never imagined.
“She Was My World”
Speaking through a translator, Kirandeep’s 21-year-old sister, Gursharan, described the close bond they shared despite living in different countries.
“She was everything for me,” she said.
“She always video-called me and my mum. What are we going to do without her?”
Gursharan said her sister had moved to the United Kingdom in September 2024 to study at Buckinghamshire New University before finding work at a grocery store.
Although Kirandeep had not returned home since leaving India, the sisters remained in constant contact.
“When she reached London, she told me it was beautiful and she was happy,” Gursharan recalled.
She Came to Britain to Support Her Family
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According to her family, Kirandeep’s ambitions extended far beyond herself.
Growing up in a financially struggling household in Tarn Taran, Punjab, she hoped education and work abroad would allow her to support her parents and younger siblings.
Her sister described her as exceptionally hardworking and academically gifted.
“She was the top of her class here in India,” Gursharan said.
“She always thought about us first.”
The family says Kirandeep helped pay for Gursharan’s education and encouraged her to continue studying.
Parents Left Devastated
The news of Kirandeep’s death reached the family through people in their village before they received official information.
Gursharan said both of their parents have been overwhelmed with grief.
“My mother is not well at all since hearing the news,” she said.
“My father is also in poor health.”
The family now hopes Kirandeep’s body can be returned to India so she can be laid to rest in her hometown.
“I haven’t seen her since she left in 2024,” Gursharan said.
“I just want to see her one last time.”
Vigils Held in London
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Members of the Sikh community in Hayes have gathered for vigils to honor Kirandeep’s memory.
Her family expressed gratitude to those who attended, saying the support has brought comfort during an unimaginable time.
They also hope the tragedy serves as a reminder that no family should have to experience such pain.
“We don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” Gursharan said.
“We want justice.”
Court Proceedings Continue
Daniel Sean James, 46, has been charged with:
Murder
Attempted murder
Possession of a bladed article
Prosecutors allege he entered Kirandeep’s home in Hayes during the early hours of 12 July before fatally attacking her while she was asleep beside her husband and infant son. They further allege he later jumped from a window and was arrested nearby after suffering injuries.
James appeared before the Old Bailey via video link from Wormwood Scrubs prison. He has not yet entered pleas to the charges. A plea hearing has been scheduled for 1 October, and he remains in custody.
As the criminal case continues, the allegations have not yet been tested in court, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Sources: BBC News, Old Bailey court proceedings.