Indian student Bidve's killer sentenced to life imprisonment

London, Jul 27: The

Crown Court today sentenced Kiaran Stapleton, the

of Lancaster University student Anuj Bidve, to life imprisonment.

Stapleton had earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter but showed no remorse at any stage during the trial that went on for five weeks. Not only did the 21-year-old tell the court that he prefers to be known as "Psycho Stapleton", he also reportedly laughed after shooting dead Bidve near Salford on Dec 26, 2011.

Yesterday the jury members who had watched Stapelton grin frequently throughout the trial held him guilty of murdering the Indian student. Today the court told the convict that he will remain in prison for at least 30 years.

"Only then will you be released if you are deemed not to be a risk to the public," Justice King stressed.

Last year Bidve was walking along with friends on Boxing Day when Stapleton fired at his left temple. The fact that there was no provocation on the former's part whatsoever led the jury to term it as a "motiveless" killing.

According to a psychologist who met the accused in jail, Bidve was chosen as the victim because Stapleton felt that "he had the biggest head."

OneIndia News