Murderer 'betrayed' close friend in brutal park bashing

In a brutal act of betrayal, Ishtpal Singh, 32, was found guilty of murdering his close friend, Anmoral Singh Bajwa, in a Melbourne park. The court heard that Singh meticulously planned the murder, picking up Bajwa on January 20 to buy food and alcohol for a barbecue. Unbeknownst to his friend, Singh had hidden a metal pole in the park earlier that day.

After consuming alcohol for over four hours, security footage showed Bajwa on a video call as Singh relocated the pole closer to them. At around midnight, Singh brutally bashed Bajwa in the head with the metal pole, causing catastrophic head injuries and resulting in Bajwa's death. Singh handed himself in to police after visiting his ex-wife in Echuca.

Bajwa's brother, Amandeep, described his brother as kind and helpful, expressing shock at the betrayal by his best friend. Jurors were informed that Singh's grievances, including a dispute over a transport company and issues with Bajwa's visa and a truck purchase, drove him to commit the heinous act. Despite Singh's defense claiming he was mentally ill and unaware of his actions, the jury rejected this claim, and Singh will now face sentencing.