Killer driver Anop Singh loses appeal after blaming victim

The 72-year-old had been crossing the road when Singh, driving at between 47 and 76 mph in a 30mph zone, struck him in his grey Volkswagen Golf. 

Singh initially brought the car to a stop but in order to make his getaway he then deliberately drove over Frank’s body, leaving him to die. 

Singh, formerly of Jessam Avenue in Upper Clapton, invented a series of lies in a desperate bid to distance himself from the incident. 

Singh, who drafted his own grounds of appeal, gave multiple reasons why he believed the sentence was excessive. 

These included that “it was wrong to place the offence into the highest category as it was a terrible accident and was not intentional”. 

Singh also claimed that his sentencing judge was wrong in his assessment that he was not remorseful – Singh said he was very concerned for the victim and his family. 

But Singh then went on to write: “The judge failed to take into account that the victim was heavily intoxicated as shown by the postmortem report. 

“The victim stepped off the bus and into the road out of nowhere and that the bus stop was shadowed by a bridge and the blur caused by headlights of oncoming vehicles.” 

Anop Singh (Image: CPS) Responding to the appeal, Mr Justice Choudhury said: “The protestations of remorse ring hollow given the judge’s assessment of the applicant’s reaction and the lack of empathy for the family of the victim over the course of four trials. 

“The absence of remorse or empathy is also highlighted by the applicant’s attempt, even on this renewal application, to cast blame for the collision on the victim.” 

Justice Choudhury therefore concluded that Singh’s appeal should be rejected. 

John ‘Frank’ Heneghan, 72, was killed in the collision (Image: CPS) When Singh was sentenced in 2022, Frank’s four adult children said: “John ‘Frank’ Heneghan was a former farmer, builder and publican. He had retired shortly before his untimely death in 2017 at the age of 72. 

“He was a loving husband, married to his wife Derry for forty-two years. Devoted to his wife, he nursed her through a long illness before her death in 2012. 

“A father of four, he was always warm and affectionate with his children, and always encouraged and inspired them to be the best they could be. He was a doting grandfather and loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, making them laugh and telling them stories. 

“Throughout his life he was a mentor and teacher to many, through work and in his sporting life and he was actively involved in charity work, establishing a musical tour in the west of Ireland that took place every summer and raised money for many local charities.” 

“The defendant in this case has behaved in a contemptible and appalling manner throughout. For five long years he has constantly lied and lied and has never once shown any sliver of remorse for killing our dad.”