In a shocking incident of mistaken identity, Mr. Ronan Kanda was murdered close to his house in Wolverhampton, England. He came out of his home to collect play station from his friend’s home in June 2022. He was clueless and defenceless after attack with injuries being too fatal. It was difficult for him to sustain and he shouted for help before he collapsed on ground.
Ronan Kanda has just completed his GCSE’s and was going to start his summer vacation in June. He left his home at 8.00pm with head-phones on his head to collect play station from his friend’s home.
Prabjeet Veadhesa was friends with one of Ronan’s friends and got into a fight due to disputes between them. So, he planned to attack him with Ninja sword and collected the same along with machete from the local post office. He thought Ronan’s house as his friend’s house.
He along with other 3 associates drove to Lanesfield of Wolverhampton by car. The car was driven by Josiah Francis (20 years), front seater Joseph Whittaker (18 years), back seater Sukhman Shergill (16 years) and Prabjeet Veadhesa (16 years).
The two back seaters ran towards Ronan thinking he was Ronan’s friend and stabbed him from backward. Ronan was shocked and defenceless shouting for help before collapsing on ground. The attack happened around 8.30pm with CCTV footage showing the 4 persons identity.
Both Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill left the spot immediately after finding him as wrong person by leaving their weapons and clothes. The police officers started the investigation where a CCTV footage supported in catching all four of them within days.
The court stated Shergill carried the machete in support with Veadhesa carrying ninja sword for attack. Ronan was stabbed twice by ninja sword resulting 20cm deep wound in back & hip area and 17cm wound in chest. Both of them were found guilty of murder after 5 weeks of trail at Wolverhampton crown court and sentenced on 13th July 2022.
Veadhesa attorney Adam Morgan stated his client was of good character and was “genuinely remorseful”. On the other side Timothy Hannam who was Shergill attorney stated his client should be treated more leniently as “Veadhesa was the one who actually killed Ronan”. However, court didn’t reduce the sentence as they wanted to show what kind of punishment will be received by anyone after similar kind of mistaken attacks.
Veadhesa sentenced to 18 years of prison and Shergill sentenced with 16 years of imprisonment due to his support in attempting murder. While Francis and Whittaker were released of all charges.
After the death of Ronan his family was in grief and their family members stated they have lost hope in their lives. His mother stated “I have lost a lifetime of dreams, hopes and ambitions,” His father said “Nothing on this earth will satisfy my maternal desire to hold my son in my arms.” Ronan’s sister Nikita Kanda, said she was “no longer the same person” and my world has stopped – I feel empty and I’m just surviving”.
