A woman who fatally stabbed her 10-year-old daughter in her sleep, convinced they were being targeted by “tech and lasers,” has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order. Jaskirat Kaur, 33, attacked her daughter, Shay Kang, with a Swiss army knife at their home in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, in March. Hours later, Kaur called emergency services, revealing to police that she had killed her daughter to protect her from perceived threats.
Upon arrival, police encountered a visibly disturbed Kaur, who spoke of “projections” and “tech and lasers” targeting her home. She admitted to the killing, telling officers, “I didn’t want her getting taken by it.” Kaur further stated that she had contemplated killing Shay for months to shield her from harm, expressing no remorse for her actions. “They can’t take her. I would kill her again. I wanted her to die; I don’t regret it,” she said.
Kaur, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter based on diminished responsibility, showed no emotion during her sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Judge Chambers KC condemned the tragic act, describing it as “a truly dreadful and tragic loss of life.” He acknowledged the impact on the community, which remains in shock, saying, “The conditions in which she lived and the context in which she died were the direct result of your severe mental illness.”
Prosecutor Sally Howes KC detailed Kaur’s increasing paranoia, which had led to Shay’s nine-month absence from Brickhouse Primary School. Concerns were raised about Shay’s welfare, with police visiting the home on multiple occasions. Kaur repeatedly refused to send Shay to school, citing fears of a “male” abducting her. Social workers assessed the family in September 2023, observing that Shay appeared pale, robotic in movement, and regressing in her speech, while Kaur exhibited signs of paranoia and anxiety. Shay briefly returned to school in January, telling staff she and her mother lived isolated lives, spending time alone in separate rooms.
Two forensic psychiatrists diagnosed Kaur with paranoid schizophrenia, concluding that her severe mental illness influenced her actions. Shay’s school, Brickhouse Primary, expressed heartbreak over her loss. Carla Newby, the school’s pastoral officer, remembered Shay as a “bright, happy, fun-loving child” with a smile that could “brighten up the dimmest of days.” Staff paid their respects by placing a pink blanket and teddy bear in her coffin.
Kaur’s defence lawyer, Katherine Goddard KC, spoke of her client’s bleak future, emphasizing the severity and long-term nature of her mental condition. “She has received no visits except for her legal team, and received no letters,” Goddard said, describing Kaur’s isolation as a reflection of “the bleak sadness” that lies ahead for her.
The case has left the local community deeply affected, with floral tributes left outside the family’s Rowley Regis home as neighbours, school staff, and community members mourn the tragic loss of young Shay.
