UK man gets life for murdering Lankan pensioner

A drug addict has been jailed for life for killing a pensioner who arrived in Britain to start a new life away from his homeland.

Arulanantham Jayasundarakumar, 66, was stabbed to death at a greengrocer's shop in Horns Road, Ilford, in April 2007, a year after arriving in the UK.

Idris Jaulim, 21, from Barkingside, Essex, was ordered to serve at least 22 years for the killing in east London.

He was found guilty of murder at an earlier hearing at the Old Bailey.

The jury heard how Mr Jayasundarakumar was stabbed in the stomach when he inadvertently blocked the path of robber Jaulim.

"Jaulim's intention was to get to the till and its contents," said Peter Wright QC, prosecuting. "As the victim walked into the defendant's path, he grabbed hold of him and produced a knife in his left hand and brandished it towards him."

Judge Peter Rook told Jaulim: "After undergoing lives against the backdrop of civil war in Sri Lanka they expected life would be peaceful here.

"However, three days after the first anniversary of their arrival you sacrificed Mr Jayasundarakumar's life to satisfy your cravings."