UK, Feb 4, 2004

A man and a woman have been charged with murder following the death of an elderly man at a Sikh temple in Wolverhampton. They are currently in custody in Wolverhampton where they are being quizzed by murder squad detectives investigating the Christmas Eve attack on the 78-year-old. Sohan Singh Randhawa died after being attacked in the early hours of Christmas Eve. Mr Randhawa, who moved to Britain in 1991 after retiring, suffered serious head injuries and died at New Cross Hospital on December 30.

More than 30 officers have been working round the clock on the case, questioning dozens of people and painstakingly sifting through leads hoping for a breakthrough. The thieves made off with up to £100 in coins from a collection box along with three microphones with distinctive red bands. A 14-year-old boy, who came to the gentle grandfather's rescue on hearing his cries, was given counselling following the horror.

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30 officers join hunt for temple killer

Jan 3, 2004, 14:30

Detectives hunting the killer of devout Sikh Sohan Singh, 78 years old, at a Wolverhampton temple have set up a dedicated incident room. It was while he was at the Guru Nanak Satsang Temple, in Cannock Road, at about 0300 GMT on Christmas Eve that he was attacked by an unknown number of intruders

The grandfather was beaten and robbed during a raid on Christmas Eve.

He died on Tuesday after battling for life for six days following the attack at the Cannock Road Guru Nanak Satsang Temple.

Today around 30 officers investigating the murder were co-ordinating their efforts in a room at Brierley Hill police station.

The motive behind the attack appears to be robbery as the offender escaped with £60 from the 78-year-old father-of-four, leaving him with head and shoulder injuries.

Detectives do not believe there was any racial or religious motive to the murder, which shocked residents in Park Village and the Sikh community.

The attack happened between 3-4am and police think Mr Singh, who was sleeping in the temple overnight, surprised the robber.

Officers have renewed appeals for anyone heading home from nightclubs to come forward if they saw anything suspicious.

Mr Singh was staying with his nephew in Fairview Grove, Fallings Park, but spent most of his time at the temple where he oversaw the reading of the Sikh holy books and often stayed overnight there.