Legal News

Kiaran Stapleton the man who shot dead Anuh Bidve an Indian student on a street in Salford in the early hours of Boxing Day has been found guilty of murder.
The jury at Manchester Crown Court has found the 21 year old ‘psycho’ guilty of murdering the 23 year old Indian student after a four week trial. Stapleton had referred to himself as ‘Psycho’ in an earlier hearing.
Subhash Bidve father of Anuj said that the killer had turned his son’s hopes and dreams into a continuous nightmare for the family.
Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the north-west, said it was a terrible crime which shocked and appalled all. It was more tragic because it was completely senseless. He said Bidve had his whole life ahead of him, was young and bright, a talented student who was enjoying his time at Lancaster University. His parents were understandably very proud of him. Stapleton shot Anuj, an innocent and defenceless man, at close range, without warning or provocation, he said.
Afzal added that it was a cowardly act for which there was no remorse shown by the murderer.
The trial heard that Stapleton had a teardrop tattooed on his face two days after the shooting, which can indicate the wearer has killed someone. He said it referred not to the death of Bidve, but to his pet goldfish and refused to answer questions about it during the trial, claiming he would receive "animal cruelty letters" in prison. The prosecution's barrister, Brian Cummings QC, accused him of mocking the proceedings, which he denied.
At a hearing at Manchester crown court on 1 June, Stapleton, from Ordsall, Salford, admitted his involvement in the killing when he pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. But the prosecution rejected his plea and the case proceeded to a murder trial.
The trial was dominated by the issue of diminished responsibility, with psychological and psychiatric evidence presented to the court by various experts. The prosecution case was that Stapleton had intended to kill.
In evidence, Stapleton told the court he "felt nothing" when he realised he had killed somebody. He said his mind went blank and he just turned around and ran. When he saw the news the next day he felt nothing, he said.
Prof Nigel Eastman, a forensic psychiatrist, said he was worried about Stapleton as he displayed a lack of feelings.
Anuj's father said that Stapleton had tried to evade responsibility for the murder and blame Holden. The jury decided that his final plan of diminished responsibility was another failed exercise and, in fact, concluded that he had carried out the brutal and totally unnecessary murder of Anuj.
Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley, of Greater Manchester police, said the parents of Anuj worked incredibly hard to send their son Anuj to England so he could get a good education. However, their dreams were shattered because of the brutal and callous actions of Kiaran Stapleton. But she said the most important thing was his parents were there to "see their son's killer brought to justice".
Stapleton will be sentenced on Friday at 11am at Manchester crown court.