Dad slit throat of warring father-in-law who accused his childless son of 'firing blanks'

Jailed: Naunihal Singh will serve more than 17 years in jail for the murder of Ujjal Singh

An optician slit the throat of his son's father-in-law in a row over their children's failure to conceive.
Ujjal Singh was stabbed to death as he slept in his bed after a row at his family home in Manchester in which he accused son-in-law Yawinder-Pal Singh, 37, of 'firing blanks'.
Yawinder's dad Naunihal Singh, 54, later went upstairs and knifed his fellow father-in-law in the throat before leaving the body to be discovered by other members of his family.
Naunihal Singh - who had been visiting from India at the time of the booze-fuelled row - was told he will serve at least 17 years and 39 days behind bars after admitting murder at an earlier hearing at Manchester Crown Court.

Cavendish Press

Killer: Naunihal Singh slit the throat of his daughter-in-law's dad as he lay asleep in bed

Judge Robert Atherton said: "You have a son who now has to bear the knowledge that his father killed his wife's father.
"The two families which were united are now completely divided, all because of a very short-lived unnecessary argument.
"I hope both families will be able to gradually come to terms with what has been one of the most dreadful events in the life of any members of both families."
Retired shopkeeper Ujjal, who was celebrating his 63rd birthday blamed Naunihal's son for the couple's failure to have children and accused him of "firing blanks".

Victim: Ujjal Singh was killed while he slept after accusing his son-in-law of 'firing blanks'

Following an afternoon in the pub and an evening meal on November 30 last year Ujjal went to bed but tensions escalated and Yawinder-Pal - known as Monty - smashed a photo frame with his hand and had to be taken to hospital by the women.
As the victim lay in bed, Naunihal sat at the kitchen table drinking vodka before taking a kitchen knife from a drawer.
After the case Senior Investigating Officer Bob Tonge of Greater Manchester Police said: "This case is tragic from start to end and what should have been a normal family gathering ended in absolute tragedy.
"Two families have been destroyed by this awful incident, which basically stemmed from a family argument and was fuelled by alcohol.

Steve Allen/Manchester Evening News

Scene: Police launched a murder probe after Ujjal's body was found inside the house in the Crumpsall area of Manchester

"While alone with the victim, and feeling slighted and offended by comments directed at his son, Naunihal Singh callously went into Ujjal Singh's room and without a second thought, stabbed him as he slept.
He then fled, leaving his son, daughter-in-law and her family to discover his heinous crime. The one saving grace is that he has not subjected them to further torment by making them endure a trial and has faced up to his crime and subsequent, inevitable punishment."
In a statement Ujjal's family said: "A true testament to his character was his ability to interact with his elders, his peers and also the younger generation that he was surrounded by.
"He will be fondly remembered by all his family, he will never be replaced and never be forgotten."