Murder of Anuj Bidve
{{Short description|2011 murder in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Murder of Anuj Bidve
| partof =
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Anuj Bidve
| map =
| map_size =
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| location = Salford
| target = Anuj Bidve
| coordinates =
| date = {{start date|2011|12|26|df=y}}
| time = 01:30
| timezone = GMT
| type = Murder
| fatalities = 1
| injuries =
| victims = Anuj Bidve
| perpetrators = Kiaran Stapleton
| assailants =
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| weapons =
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| dfens =
| motive = None
| inquiry =
| coroner =
| accused =
| convicted = Kiaran Stapleton
| verdict = Guilty
| convictions =
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}}
File:Flowers left in memory of Anuj Bidve.jpg
Anuj Bidve was an international student from India who was shot and killed on 26 December 2011, for no apparent reason, while visiting friends in Salford, near Manchester. Local factory worker Kiaran Stapleton was later convicted of his murder.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18972079 |work=BBC News |title=Anuj Bidve killer Kiaran Stapleton convicted of murder |publisher=BBC |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9429463/Kiaran-Stapleton-a-man-lacking-identity-who-sought-the-notoriety-of-a-killer.html |title=Kiaran Stapleton: a man lacking identity who sought the notoriety of a killer |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 July 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012 |location=London}} {{cite news|url=http://www.engineering.lancs.ac.uk/news/?article_id=1291 |title=Engineering at Lancaster University |publisher=University of Lancaster |access-date=26 July 2012}} At the time of his death, Bidve was studying for a Master of Science degree in Microelectronics and System-on-Chip Engineering at Lancaster University.
Investigation
The murder was brought to prominence in the UK and abroad due to the execution-style killing, and after the failure of the British police to inform his family in India, who subsequently learned of the death of their 23-year-old son through Facebook. The family complained about this, delays in processing the case and returning the body to them. As a result, the police sent two senior officers to Pune in India to apologise and give them details of the progress of the investigation. Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley said: "We felt it was important to make personal contact with the family. We need to explain to them in person where we are up to in the investigation."{{cite news|title=Anuj Bidve murder: Greater Manchester Police apologise to family for failing to inform them|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8989140/Anuj-Bidve-murder-Greater-Manchester-Police-apologise-to-family-for-failing-to-inform-them.html|access-date=3 January 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=3 January 2012|location=London|first=Dean|last=Nelson}} The family said that they had "complete trust and confidence in Greater Manchester Police".
{{As of|2012|01|03}}, five people had been arrested in total.{{cite news|last=Ravenscroft|first=Nick|title=Anuj Bidve killing: Candlelit vigils held in Salford and New Delhi|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-16384242|access-date=3 January 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=2 January 2012}} However, three of the group were bailed until March 2012, pending further inquiries. A fourth man, aged 19, who was originally bailed, later had his "bail cancelled", police said, according to the BBC. Previously, on 2 January, the prime suspect had famously announced himself as Kiaran "Psycho" Stapleton during his brief appearance at Manchester City Magistrates' Court.{{cite news|title=Anuj Bidve killing: Kiaran 'Psycho' Stapleton remanded|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-16380751|access-date=3 January 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=2 January 2012}} Prosecutor Ben Southam then informed the court that the case had to be sent to Manchester Crown Court, as Stapleton had been charged with murder. Stapleton, of Salford, was remanded in custody. There was no application for bail.
On 26 July 2012, Stapleton was convicted of the murder of Bidve.{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Helen |title=Kiaran Stapleton guilty of murdering Anuj Bidve in Salford|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/26/kieran-stapleton-guilty-anuj-bidve|access-date=26 July 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 July 2012 |location=London}}{{cite news| url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3687233.ece|title= Briton found guilty of Anuj Bidve murder| date= 26 July 2012|access-date= 26 July 2012|newspaper= The Hindu|location=Chennai, India|first=Hasan|last=Suroor}} He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 30 years before parole is considered, which would not be until 27 July 2042. {{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/other-news/Anuj-Bidve-murder-Psycho-Stapleton-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment/articleshow/15202800.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515031534/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-27/other-news/32888337_1_anuj-bidve-psycho-stapleton-lancaster-university |url-status=live |archive-date=15 May 2013 |title= Anuj Bidve murder: 'Psycho' Stapleton sentenced to life imprisonment| date= 27 July 2012|newspaper=The Times of India |access-date= 27 July 2012}} The prosecution and defence at the trial agreed that he had antisocial personality disorder.
Controversies
One notable aspect of the investigation was the trauma suffered by Bidve's father Subhash when he learnt about his son's death via a social networking site, before the police had been able to make contact. He stated that, "the world was finished for us", while laying flowers with his wife Yogini and brother-in-law Rakesh Sonawane at the murder scene.{{cite news|title=Anuj Bidve's parents visit street where Indian student was murdered|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jan/06/anuj-bidve-parents-visit-murder-scene|access-date=6 January 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|first=Helen|last=Carter|date=6 January 2012}} There is still much uncertainty over the motivation for the attack and how it should be treated in law. As of 5 January 2012, the police had not established whether it was a hate crime or part of a gang initiation. Soon after, the British coroner decided to release the body to the Indian consulate, so that arrangements could be made to return it to Pune for the funeral ceremony to take place there.
Death and reaction
Bidve was shot on Ordsall Lane in Ordsall, Greater Manchester at 01:30 GMT on 26 December 2011. He died later in hospital. According to some news reports, more than 400 people paid tribute at a memorial service for him on the night of 2 January 2012 at the scene of the shooting in Salford. The site is less than a mile from the skyscrapers of Manchester city centre and its landmark Beetham Tower.
The Bidve family were accompanied on their visit by dignitaries from the consulate general of India in Birmingham. They were greeted by Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson of Greater Manchester Police, who had previously travelled to India to meet the family, Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley, and Barbara Spicer, the chief executive of Salford City Council.
On 5 January, the family met Keith Vaz, chairman of the Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee, at Westminster. British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was on a visit to the North West at the time, spoke to the family on the phone, having earlier committed himself to meeting the parents if they so wished.
The Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, Professor Mark E. Smith, said the university had provided financial assistance to the family, and would hold a memorial ceremony for Bidve later in the month.
References
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}{{Murders in the United Kingdom in the 2010s}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bidve, Anuj}}
Category:Deaths by firearm in England
Category:Deaths by person in England
Category:December 2011 crimes in Europe
Category:Facebook criticisms and controversies
Category:Murder in Greater Manchester