Retired postmaster, 79, who beat his wife, 77, to death with a wooden rounders bat after suspecting an affair – before dropping off his house keys at a police station so they could find her body – is jailed for 15 years

• Tarsame Singh, 79, battered Maya Devi, 77, to death at their home in Hornchurch

A retired postmaster who beat his wife to death with a rounders bat after suspecting she was having an affair before handing his house keys to police so they could find her body has been jailed for at least 15 years.

Tarsame Singh, 79, battered Maya Devi, 77, to death at their home in Hornchurch, east London, on 2 May.

He walked into Romford police station and confessed to killing his wife by hitting her with a wooden rounders bat.

Singh gave police his house keys and said her body could be found at their address. Police officers and paramedics attended the scene shortly after 9.30pm.

The couple, who had three children, had run a nearby post office in Rainham for many years before retiring.

Maya Devi, 77, was found dead at her home after being beaten with a rounders bat

Tarsame Singh, 79, confessed to police that he had killed his wife and gave them his house keys

Abigail Husbands, prosecuting, earlier told the Old Bailey: ‘He said he thought his wife was having an affair and when he returned home at 4pm he thought another man had been there and attacked her.

‘Police attended 14 minutes later and found the victim lying unresponsive on the living room floor.

‘They found a wooden rounders bat near her head and a wooden rolling pin near to her. Her body was covered with a blood stained sheet.’

An ambulance was called but Ms Devi was pronounced dead at the scene – just a week before she had been scheduled to go on holiday to Lanzarote.

She had suffered severe facial injuries, bruising to the hands and legs and two of her teeth had been knocked out.

The couple were originally from India but had been living in the UK for more than 50 years.

Singh, of Cowdray Way, Hornchurch, admitted murder and he was jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Maya Devi (pictured) was discovered with head injuries at a house near Hornchurch, East London, just after 9.30pm on May 2 

Singh gave police his house keys and said her body could be found at their address 

Ms Devi was a regular at the Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association (HASWA) community centre close to her home, where she practised Yoga and met friends for lunch.

After her death close friend Nirmala Leal told MailOnline: ‘Maya was such a lovely lady, really warm-hearted. She loved singing as much as yoga and had a smile for everyone.

‘I can’t believe this has happened and that she has gone. I saw her just a few hours before her death, it doesn’t seem real that I won’t see her again.’

Detective Chief Inspector 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.’

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