Sukhdev Singh

An illegal immigrant accused of murdering two men in a Shropshire flat was like a brother to one of the victims, a court has heard.Sukhdev Singh was said to be “really good friends” with the other man he is said to have murdered, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Singh, 26, denies murdering 30-year-old Jaswant Singh, also known as Jim, and 31-year-old Kulwant Singh, also known as John, between December 5 and 8 last year.

Friend Balkar Singh Kamal told the court Kulwant Singh and Sukhdev Singh were “like brothers”.

He said when he visited their flat, Jaswant Singh treated Sukhdev Singh “perfectly OK”.

He said Sukhdev Singh was “OK” and treated him “like I was a friend”.

Mr Kamal described Sukhdev Singh as “quiet” and said Jaswant and Kulwant Singh had not teased him “at any time”.

Ryan Jackson, 18, told the court he had met Jaswant Singh and Sukhdev Singh when he was working at the Indian Village takeaway, next door to the Shawbury Fish Bar.

He said he had visited the flat above the chip shop “about five or six times” after work.

He said: “Shera would have a drink now and then but he wouldn’t have much, he would only have one or two.”

Mr Jackson said Jaswant Singh was a “friendly person” and said: “I don’t think he ever did anything wrong to anyone”.

He said he had not detected any dislike between Sukhdev Singh and Jaswant Singh and said he thought they were “really good friends”.

He said: “I didn’t really talk to Shera a lot, I usually talked to Jim or John because they spoke good English.”

Benjamin Birchall, 17, took over Mr Jackson’s job at the Indian Village when he left.

He said of Sukhdev Singh and Jaswant Singh: “They were quite pleasant and kind with me and always used to have a joke with me in the back of the chip shop.

“Shera didn’t speak much English so I spoke to Jim and he spoke to Shera for me.

“He was all right. They used to get on in the back when I was there, in the back of the chip shop.

“We just used to have a laugh and joke with everyone. They always used to be happy.”

Mr Birchall said he and Sukhdev Singh used to play fight in the back of the shop.

The trial continues.

By Debbie Collins