AN Edmonton killer who beat to death a rough sleeper and tried to murder two of his friends has been locked up for at least 24 years.

Jaswinder Singh, 43, launched a savage attack on the three men in the middle of the night on September 9 last year, attacking them with an iron bar while they slept in on the streets of Ilford.

The Town Road resident believed the three men had attacked him a few days previously, and swore to get revenge.

He beat two of the men, leaving them with broken bones and fractures, and killed a third man, 31-year-old Harbharjan Singh, who died from severe injuries to his head and neck.

The alarm was raised shortly after the midnight attack when one of the injured men, 58, was found in Ilford High Road and rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Later that day, a second injured man, aged 42, was discovered in the same area with similarly severe injuries. A subsequent search of the area uncovered the body of Mr Singh on mattress close to Buckingham Road Cemetery.

An eyewitness reported to detectives seeing Jaswinder Singh in the area soon after the attacks, holding a metal bar and in blood-splattered clothing.

He was arrested soon afterwards and charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Despite denying the charges, he was today found guilty by an Old Bailey jury and jailed for life. He will serve at least 24 years behind bars.

Detective Chief Inspector John Macdonald, from the Met's Homivide and Serious Crime Command, said: “I'd like to say a big thank you to all the witnesses who attended court. This wasn't a straightforward case and we needed them to give evidence.

“They did a great job and I'm sure Harbharjan's family would like me to pass on their gratitude to them."