Key Points
- Rajat Jaswel, 31, appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, charged with murdering his 26-year-old neighbour, Navneet Kaur, and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
- Prosecutor Ben Holt informed the court that the incident involved the fatal shooting of an unarmed woman inside her chalet-style residence on Chertsey Road, Hounslow, following an apparently minor dispute.
- The court heard that Jaswel, who lived in a chalet on the same site, had arrived in the United Kingdom from India in 2018 and was an immigration overstayer at the time of the offence.
- Neighbours reported hearing two loud bangs between 18:30 and 19:00 GMT on 3 November, entered the property using a spare key, and alerted the Metropolitan Police on the afternoon of 4 November.
- Judge Lynn Tayton remanded Jaswel into custody, scheduling a plea and case management hearing for 12 February 2027 and a provisional two-week trial beginning on 27 September 2027.
Hounslow, West London (West London Times) November 12, 2026 – A 31-year-old man has appeared at the Old Bailey accused of fatally shooting his 26-year-old neighbour with a shotgun inside her chalet-style home in west London following an allegedly minor disagreement. Rajat Jaswel faces charges of murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection with the death of Navneet Kaur on Chertsey Road. Following the preliminary hearing, the defendant was remanded into custody ahead of a provisional trial scheduled for September 2027.
What Happened During the Old Bailey Hearing?
As reported by Megan Howe of The London Standard, prosecutor Ben Holt told the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, that the case centres on the
“shooting of an unarmed woman with a shotgun over an apparently minor dispute”.
The victim, 26-year-old Navneet Kaur, was allegedly killed inside her chalet-style residence on Chertsey Road in uk/local/hounslow/">Hounslow, west London.
The defendant, 31-year-old Rajat Jaswel, resided in a separate chalet on the exact same residential site as Mrs Kaur. As reported by Megan Howe of The London Standard, Ben Holt informed the court that Jaswel had originally entered the United Kingdom from India in 2018 and remained in the country as an immigration overstayer at the time of the fatal incident. During the proceedings at the Old Bailey, Jaswel spoke exclusively to confirm his name and age.
Judge Lynn Tayton presided over the hearing and remanded Jaswel into custody. The judge scheduled a plea and case management hearing for 12 February 2027 and set a provisional two-week trial date to commence on 27 September 2027.
How Was Navneet Kaur Discovered by Neighbours and Police?
According to court details reported by Megan Howe of The London Standard, Mrs Kaur, who was also of Indian descent, had spoken over the telephone with her husband—who was away at the time—on the evening of Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Subsequently, between 18:30 and 19:00 GMT that evening, neighbours living nearby allegedly heard two loud bangs that they suspected were gunshots.
Following the noise, neighbours obtained a spare key to gain access to Mrs Kaur’s chalet before alerting the emergency services the following day. As stated in an official release by the Metropolitan Police, officers attended the address on Chertsey Road on the afternoon of Wednesday, 4 November, to conduct a welfare check. Upon entering the property, officers discovered Mrs Kaur suffering from fatal gunshot wounds, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
What Have Police Investigators Said About the Ongoing Inquiry?
Rajat Jaswel, born on 12 September 1995 and residing on Chertsey Road, was arrested shortly after Mrs Kaur’s body was discovered. Prior to his appearance at the Old Bailey, Jaswel was formally charged with murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, making his initial court appearance at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 November 2026.
As reported by the Energy Radio Newsroom, Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee of the Metropolitan Police, who is leading the murder investigation, stated:
“Our thoughts remain with Navneet’s family and loved ones as they continue to come to terms with this devastating loss”.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mrs Kaur’s next of kin have been notified and are currently receiving dedicated support from specialist family liaison officers.
As reported by Ajmal Abbas of India Today, detectives confirmed that while a suspect has been charged, the broader inquiry remains active. Police investigators have issued a public appeal urging anyone with relevant information, particularly residents or motorists holding doorbell camera recordings or dashcam footage from the Chertsey Road area, to come forward. Members of the public with information are asked to contact the Metropolitan Police on 101 quoting reference 01/8264940/26, or to reach out anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 111 555.
Background
Chertsey Road runs through the Feltham and Hanworth areas within the London Borough of Hounslow, a suburban district in west London characterised by a mix of traditional residential housing, commercial corridors, and converted outbuildings or chalet-style dwellings.
Under United Kingdom criminal law, the unauthorised possession and discharge of a shotgun carries severe statutory penalties under the Firearms Act 1968, reflecting strict national gun control regulations where civilian ownership of shotguns requires rigorous police vetting and valid certification.
In the English legal system, all indictable-only offences such as murder are transferred rapidly from a magistrates’ court—in this instance, Hendon Magistrates’ Court—to the Crown Court, with serious London homicide cases routinely heard at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey).
Prediction
As the criminal prosecution progresses towards the February 2027 plea hearing and the provisional September 2027 trial, residents along Chertsey Road and across the wider Hounslow community may experience a heightened police presence as detectives continue canvassing for digital evidence and witness statements.
For local homeowners, tenants, and landlords managing multi-occupancy or chalet-style sites in west London, the proceedings are likely to prompt renewed scrutiny regarding property security, access to spare keys, and neighbour dispute resolution mechanisms.
Furthermore, the disclosure during the Old Bailey hearing regarding the defendant’s immigration status as an overstayer since 2018 may draw increased attention from local authorities and policymakers examining housing oversight and compliance checks within private rental accommodations in outer London boroughs.
