An Indian-origin woman was arrested over the suspected cyanide poisoning of her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée, in what police said was a possible ‘honour’ killing.
Lakhvinder Cheema, 39, died and his 21-year-old fiancee Gurjeet Kaur was left seriously ill after eating an evening meal allegedly laced with poison.
Cheema’s former girlfriend, Lakhver Kaur, 44, was believed to have been for dinner at the victims’ house in Feltham, west London, on the night that they fell ill.
Kaur, who is understood to work for a catering company, was arrested by murder squad detectives over Cheema’s “suspicious” death and the injuries suffered by his “young and attractive” new lover.
According to The Daily Telegraph another man, Varinder Singh, the brother-in-law of the dead man, was also arrested. Singh, 54, is suspected of providing the poison for the ex-girlfriend and detectives are examining if he played a part in a conspiracy.
Detectives are investigating whether the couple were targeted because their relationship had “dishonoured” the Sikh families. Cheema and Kaur had complained of stomach pains and difficulty in breathing and were taken to West Middlesex Hospital.
Traces of cyanide were found in Cheema’s blood. The substance can occur naturally in the body, and a post-mortem examination was being carried out to establish the levels of the poison present.
{{/usCountry}}Traces of cyanide were found in Cheema’s blood. The substance can occur naturally in the body, and a post-mortem examination was being carried out to establish the levels of the poison present.
{{/usCountry}}Police officers from Scotland Yard arrested Kaur, 44, and Singh within 24 hours of Cheema’s death.