Spurned NRI woman ‘killed ex-lover’ with ancient Indian poison

LONDON - A scorned Indian-origin woman in London has been accused of killing her ex-lover by lacing his chicken curry with a poison that finds a mention in ancient Indian mythology.

Lakhvir Singh, 40, from west London, was driven to murder when she discovered that her long-term lover, Lakhvinder ‘Lucky’ Cheema, was planning to marry a 21-year-old woman he met at a temple in Southall, a court heard Wednesday.

Counsel for prosecution said the married mother of three killed Cheema Jan 27 last year by sprinkling his chicken curry with aconite, known in Indian ancient texts as Halahal - the poison that mythology holds turned the Hindu god Shiva’s neck blue after he consumed it.

Cheema and his lover Gurjeet Choough fell ill within minutes of eating the curry - their bodies went numb and they started to vomit. An hour after reaching hospital Cheema was dead.

Gurjeet fell into a coma but survived because she had eaten less of the curry, whereas Cheema had had a second helping.

With perhaps jealousy, anger and revenge all playing their part she decided to poison both of them, using an extremely toxic and deadly poison, possibly brought especially from India, said Edward Brown, appearing for the prosecution.

The court heard Cheema told medical staff from his deathbed that he had suffered similar symptoms the previous month, when he spent a week in hospital after eating a meal cooked by Lakhvir shortly after announcing his engagement.

Lakhvir was accused of trying to drive a wedge between Cheema and Gurjeet by suggesting to Cheema that the only reason Gurjeet wanted to marry him was to obtain residence in the UK and that as soon as she had done so she would leave him”.

Lakhvir Singh denies murder and attempted murder on Jan 28, 2009, and an earlier attempted murder of Cheema Dec 6, 2008.