Elm Park murder: Face of man who fatally beat wife Maya Devi

The killer husband who beat his wife to death at their home in Elm Park has been pictured for the first time. 

At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday (July 31), Tarsame Singh, 79, pleaded guilty to murdering his 77-year-old wife Maya Devi. 

Singh had handed himself in to Romford police station at around 9.30pm on May 2 telling the front desk that he had just killed his wife. 

Officers found Maya unresponsive on the living room floor of their home in Cowdray Way. A wooden rounders bat was found nearby, police said.

Significant amounts of blood staining was found on the carpet and nearby walls.  

Maya was pronounced dead at the scene and the cause of death was given as blunt force head injuries. 

The court heard that the couple’s son had told police that there was a history of domestic violence in their marriage.  

However, Mr Singh’s defence counsel, Emlyn Jones KC, said: “Whilst he of course has accepted the charge of murder, he is aware of and is very troubled by his son’s description of violence in their marriage. He denies that there was ever violence.”  

The court heard that Singh believed his wife was being unfaithful. Mr Jones admitted: “It has never been, I’m afraid, a happy marriage. That much is true.”  

Singh is be sentenced at a later date. He faces a mandatory life sentence.  

Det Ch Insp Mark Rogers, who led the investigation, said: “This is a tragic case and one which has left the couple’s three children utterly distraught. 

“No-one should ever lose their mother in this way and we will continue to think of, and support them, at this difficult time. 

“Singh has never admitted what caused him to act in such a violent way that evening but we are pleased he has pleaded guilty and will now face a significant custodial sentence.” 

The couple ran a post office in Rainham for many years before they retired.  

MailOnline reported that Maya was “a regular” at the Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association (HASWA) community centre.   

HASWA outreach worker Nirmala Leal recalled that close friend Maya was a “a lovely lady” and was “really warm-hearted”.   

She said: “I saw her just a few hours before her death, it doesn’t seem real that I won’t see her again.”