Banker held after wife strangled and stabbed to death
Son, 4, sees killing at £2m home in ‘UK’s Beverly Hills’
THIS is the investment banker who was arrested after his wife was murdered in front of their four-year- old son at the family’s £2million home.
Police were called to the mansion in an exclusive enclave of Surrey dubbed ‘ Britain’s Beverly Hills’ on Saturday morning after a tip- off.
They found 38-year- old Sonita Nijhawan lying dead in a pool of blood. She had been strangled and stabbed. A man believed to be her husband Sanjay, 46, was discovered slashing at his own throat and arms with a knife.
The couple’s terrified son was seen being carried out of the property, as paramedics battled to save Mr Nijhawan’s life. He was later taken to hospital with serious injuries, and then arrested on suspicion of murder.
Detectives confirmed last night that Mrs Nijhawan had died from head and neck injuries, and said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. The
‘Had always seemed nice and normal’
wealthy couple had moved into their newly completed home on a private estate only a fortnight ago. They had previously knocked down a smaller property on the site, which they had purchased for £925,000 in 2009.
The property is near St George’s Hill in Weybridge, an area which has been home to wealthy residents including Cliff Richard, Ronnie Wood and ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
Last night friends said the couple had been excited about moving into their dream home and seemed to be in a loving relationship.
A friend of Mrs Nijhawan said: ‘I did not know of any problems between them. They got together 11 years ago. It was a love marriage. I saw her for lunch only two weeks ago with her little boy and she did not seem to have any problems. They seemed happy.
‘He worked in the City and she worked for the family care home business. They didn’t have money worries. He is a family man who always seemed calm and peaceloving. I am totally shocked.’
A neighbour who spoke to Mrs Nijhawan’s father after he went into the house where the killing took place said: ‘He told me police believe it was a murder- suicide. Their four-year-old witnessed the attack and was left in the house until the police arrived.’
She added: ‘ Sanjay was quiet, sweet and soft- spoken. You couldn’t imagine him hurting anyone.’ And one of the couple’s neighbours said: ‘Sanjay always seemed very nice and normal. When we first heard what happened we thought it was a burglary gone wrong, we never imagined anything like this.’ A friend who lives by Mrs Nijhawan parents in Twickenham, south-west London, said: ‘Sonita was lovable, beautiful, kind and a loving mother.
‘The family come from a strong Hindu background. Her father, mother and brother will be abso- lutely devastated.’ Yesterday a relative said the family were too upset to speak about their tragic loss.
And Surrey Detective Chief Inspector Jason Taylor said: ‘I believe this to be an isolated incident, with no wider threat to the community.’