Grandmother, 86, who arranged for her daughter-in-law, 27, to be lured to India and murdered as an honor killing, has been FREED from prison
A grandmother who caused her daughter-in-law to be killed in a so-called honor killing in India has been released from prison – despite a request from Justice Minister Dominic Raab that she be locked up.
Bachan Kaur Athwal, now 86, was convicted in 2007 of ordering the murder of 27-year-old Surjit Athwal after learning she was having an affair and seeking a divorce from her son.
Athwal, then 70, was convicted along with her son Sukhdave of ordering the murder of Surjit, from Hayes, West London, who went missing on a trip to India in 1998.
MailOnline revealed in June last year that the Parole Board had recommended that Athwal, who is in poor health and suffering from dementia, should be released on parole.
A month later, this website revealed how the probation board’s decision had been challenged by the Justice Minister, who claimed the panel placed undue weight on “health factors” and “did not consider sufficient risk-related evidence.”
Bachan Kaur Athwal, now 86, (pictured in 2007) was jailed that year for ordering the murder of 27-year-old Surjit Athwal after learning she was having an affair and seeking a divorce from her son
Athwal’s daughter-in-law Surjit Kaur Athwal seen at a wedding in India shortly before she disappeared in 2007
Athwal and Surjit seen at a wedding in India shortly before the daughter-in-law disappeared in 2007
Mr Raab also argued that the panel ‘did not take into account the failure to release information on victims’.
Despite the appeal, the probation committee rejected the minister’s arguments.
MailOnline can reveal that Athwal was released from prison in August last year and is being cared for by his family under certain restrictions.
Athwal and son Sukhdave, then aged 43, were sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of an honor killing on Surjit.
At the time, Athwal was one of the oldest people in the country to be in prison for murder.
Surjit disappeared after traveling from the UK to India with her mother-in-law for a family wedding in December 1998.
The young bride – who was forcibly married off to Sukhdave at the age of 16 – was subsequently murdered, but her body has never been found.
MailOnline revealed in June last year that the Parole Board had recommended that Athwal, who is in poor health and suffering from dementia, should be released under license
Athwal and her son Sukhdave Athwal (pictured), then aged 43, were sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of an honor killing on Surjit
Athwal and her family treated Surjit like a slave and plotted to kill her fearing that she was too rebellious and tarnished the family name.
Mother-of-two Surjit lived with the family in Hayes and was allegedly abused at home.
Sukhdave took out a £100,000 insurance policy for his wife on the day she left for India, but it did not pay out.
He later divorced Surjit during her absence, claiming that she had abandoned him, and then married someone else.
Before her release, the Justice Minister argued that Athwal continued to pose a risk to society.
In May last year, she beat her daughter while visiting the prison and twice assaulted a member of staff and another prisoner.
In Athwal’s appeal, the prison offender’s manager gave evidence that she had not shown any instances of aggression before the onset of dementia.
The attacks were described as ‘low level’ as no one was injured.
Medical tests suggested that the elderly Athwal “would be difficult to treat in exactly the same way as any other person suffering from dementia and no more.”