Drug Addict jailed for Violently Beating Father to Death

Phillip Badwal, aged 25, of Bradford, was jailed for life after he savagely beat his father to death with a cricket bat.

It was heard that the incident happened at the family home in Airedale Road, Undercliffe, on November 30, 2020.

Badwal brutally assaulted Santokh ‘Charlie’ Singh the day after his 59th birthday, beating him with a cricket bat, kicking him, stamping on him and assaulting him with a metal dog bowl.

Mr Singh had celebrated his birthday with his older sons from another relationship, Charles and Richard.

They had shown him a flat in Shipley as Mr Singh planned to move out of the family home.

Mr Singh was a happy-go-lucky soul but became “diminished” in his later life. Badwal had taken his money and possessions and beaten him up.

On November 28, 2020, Badwal took money from his father to buy drugs.

On the day of the murder, Badwal was desperate for drugs and texted the ‘Johnny’ dealer line to order heroin and crack cocaine.

He attacked Mr Singh with “unspeakable violence”, striking him over the head with a cricket bat. Badwal also kicked and stamped on him and also hit him with a metal dog bowl so hard, denting it.

Mr Singh’s head was also struck against the wall.

Afterwards, Badwal called a drug dealer before calling 999.

He then claimed his father walked into the house, having been assaulted by someone else.

The cricket bat was later found in a neighbour’s garden.

Part-way through the trial, Badwal pleaded guilty to murder.

Badwal’s previous convictions included battery, racially aggravated threatening behaviour and threatening behaviour.

He was currently serving a five-year sentence for robbery, attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

The court heard that Badwal and others had subjected members of the public to violent assaults to rob them in the street.

He was on bail for those offences when he murdered his father.

Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, said: “This is a murder in a domestic context.”

He added that the incident involved a breach of trust because a son had killed his father in his own home.

Peter Moulson QC, defending, said Badwal expressed his sincere apologies to family members and all those affected.

Mr Singh’s wife, Badwal’s mother, said she equally loved her husband and son.

She said: “I have lost my husband and I’m going to lose my son for many years now.”

Judge Jonathan Rose said: “It was a savage, brutal and persistent assault on a defenceless man.”

Badwal was sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum of 20 years.