A woman who stabbed her daughter, Shay Kang, 11 times in the chest while she slept has received an indefinite hospital order. Shay was discovered at their home on Robin Close in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, on March 4.
Her mother, Jaskirat Kaur, 33, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and believed she was being attacked by “lasers and technology,” as revealed during the proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility in August.
Jaskirat Kaur denied murdering her daughter, and her plea of manslaughter was accepted by prosecutors. The court revealed that she killed her 10-year-old daughter, Shay, with a Swiss Army knife and later called emergency services to report, “My kid is dead.” Upon police arrival, Kaur claimed there were “projections” and “tech and lasers” affecting their home and admitted, “It was me [that killed her], because I didn’t want her getting took by it.”
As graphic details of the incident were recounted in court, onlookers were visibly upset. During her arrest, Kaur confessed to detectives that she had intended to kill her daughter for the past seven months, stating, “They can’t adopt her, they can’t take her…I wanted her to die, I don’t regret it.”
Two forensic psychiatrists confirmed that Kaur was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time. Katherine Goddard KC, defending Kaur, described her condition as “deep-seated and long-term,” with little chance of rapid recovery, emphasizing the ongoing risk of relapse.
Judge Michael Chambers KC approved an indefinite hospital order for Jaskirat Kaur to safeguard the public from potential harm, remarking on the tragic loss of her daughter, Shay. He noted that every child looks to their mother for love and protection, and Kaur’s actions represented a profound breach of that trust. The judge acknowledged Kaur’s severe mental illness, which had led both her and Shay to live in social isolation, making it hard to grasp the gravity of the situation.
Shay, a student at Brickhouse Primary School, had been the subject of welfare concerns after being absent for nine months between December 2022 and September 2023. On January 11, 2023, both Kaur and the school contacted police for a welfare check due to Shay’s absence.
During the visit, police observed that Kaur exhibited paranoia, and on a subsequent visit, she expressed fears about a “male” taking her daughter from school. While police advised Kaur to seek medical help, they assessed that Shay appeared to be in good health and not in immediate danger.
As time progressed, social workers got involved after police labeled Shay as a “child in need.” An assessment on September 27 indicated that while Shay looked “relatively healthy,” she exhibited signs of regression, including an unsteady gait and limited speech.
By November, her speech had devolved to babbling, while Kaur remained anxious and paranoid despite increased engagement with social services. When Shay returned to school in January, her speech improved, but she revealed to teachers that she and her mother spent their time in separate rooms without much interaction.
Brickhouse Primary School described Shay as a “bright, happy, fun-loving child” who was well-loved by her peers. The school arranged her funeral in September, raising £8,875 for the service and planning permanent tributes on the school grounds.
Carla Newby, the school’s pastoral officer, paid tribute in court, recalling Shay’s ability to brighten even the darkest days. She expressed that organizing Shay’s funeral was a profound honor and hoped that Shay would now find peace. Ms. Goddard, Kaur’s defense attorney, noted that Kaur would always be grateful for the support shown by the school community towards her and Shay.
