Murderer Kiaran Stapleton Jailed For 30 Years

Kiaran Stapleton was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years for murdering Indian student Anuj Bidve.

The 21-year-old, who referred to himself as "Psycho Stapleton" at his first court appearance, was convicted of murdering Mr Bidve, who was walking with friends through the Ordsall area of Salford in the early hours of Boxing Day last year.

The defendant smiled as he came into court for the verdict, and again towards a family member as he was led from the dock.

Mr Bidve, 23, from Pune, western India, had come to Britain in September last year to study micro-electronics at Lancaster University and was spending Christmas with friends in Manchester.

The trial heard how Stapleton was on the other side of the road with friend Ryan Holden when he decided to approach the group. He walked up to Mr Bidve and asked him for the time before pulling out a gun and firing a single shot into his victim's head.

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