Leicester: Man jailed for ‘merciless’ murder of girlfriend

The judge said he was sure Sidpara’s claims that he had no memory of what happened were “false”, adding that he was able to recollect other events that night.

“What’s clear is that you attacked her in a savage and merciless way,” he said.

He added: “You punched, kicked and stamped on her in a sustained attack.”

Sidpara, who was diagnosed with an alcohol dependence syndrome, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder.

“Your conspicuous lack of remorse at any stage was quite remarkable,” the judge said.

The court heard Sidpara had 24 previous convictions for 46 offences, many of them driving offences, as well as convictions for violence, threats to kill, and harassment of previous girlfriends and people connected to them.

In 2022, he was convicted of assaulting a former partner, who he had headbutted and threatened to petrol bomb her house.

In a statement read out on behalf of Ms Riaz’s brother Balraj Chagger – who was in court alongside his sister Harpreet Chagger – said if it was not his sister whose life was taken, “it would have been someone else”.

He said: “All Taz wanted was to be loved and she gave 1,000%.”

He added his mum had been left with the regret of “welcoming this monster into our family”.

“She wanted to live a life filled with love, joy and purpose. She deserved every bit of that future,” he said.