SA: Indian man gets 24 years non-parole for murder of wife

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SA: Indian man gets 24 years non-parole for murder of wife

ADELAIDE, Feb 17 AAP - An Indian man who "cold bloodedly" murdered his estranged wifein a custody dispute would spent at least 24 years in jail, a South Australian SupremeCourt Justice said today.

Dharmander Singh murdered his estranged wife Linda Bartley by shooting her four timesin SA's Riverland district on June 22, 2001, Justice Bruce Lander said.

The initial two shots were not life threatening but were followed by two more shotsto Ms Bartley's head, he said.

The last two shots were delivered while Singh was standing over his prostrate wifeafter an argument about custody of their daughter, Savannah, he said.

"The last two shots were delivered cold bloodedly," Justice Lander said when settinga non-parole period of 24 years.

"There can be no doubt that the two head shots were fired with the intention of killingyour wife."

The murder happened at the Big Orange tourist attraction in Berri but Singh was notapprehended by police until two days later when he was in a Sydney Sikh temple.

Singh, 38, had been granted a supervised child access visit on the day of the murderand met Ms Bartley in the Big Orange carpark for the handover of Savannah.

After an argument, Singh, originally from Kashmir, produced a gun and shot Ms Bartley,the court heard.

Justice Lander said Singh later "manufactured" claims that he had no recollection of the killing.

AAP sl/cjh/ts

KEYWORD: SINGH