Sumandeep Kaur Kooner, 37, was found dead in her Southwest Bakersfield home on August 26, 2019. The Kern County Coroner’s Office determined she died of a gunshot wound; she had been shot three times at close range while on a sofa. Bakersfield police classified the incident as a homicide and investigated.

Investigators and court filings described the killing as an honor killing carried out by Jagjit Singh, Kooner’s father-in-law. Singh confessed, saying he felt dishonored by Kooner’s words and behavior; he said she had threatened to pull his beard and made other disparaging remarks. Defense attorneys portrayed the shooting as provoked and done in the heat of the moment after an alleged threat to falsely accuse Singh of sexual assault. Prosecutors countered with evidence that Singh retrieved and loaded a revolver before returning and shooting Kooner, arguing the act was premeditated.

A jury convicted Singh of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to 35 years to life. Does anyone have information about Sumandeep’s life in Bakersfield or knew her family that could add context to this case?