A MAN has been jailed for life today for the murder of a woman who was hacked to death as she walked to collect her two sons from a childminder.

Jaswant Dhillon, also known as Taljit Singh, will serve a minimum of 22 years after being unanimously found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey.

Dhillon, 30, of High Road, Seven Kings, acted as a lookout during the killing on November 16 last year.

He was hired by the husband of murdered Geeta Aulakh, 28.

The assault was so ferocious that Geeta’s right hand was severed as she desperately tried to protect her head and face.

The court had heard Geeta left work at Sunrise Radio in Southall to pick up her children.

Judge Justice Saunders said: “Members of the public who saw her on the ground after the attack did their very best to do what they could to assist her, as did the emergency services when they arrived.

“But her injuries were truly terrible and there was no way anyone could help her to recover.”

Geeta’s mother Nardesh Shinh said after the verdicts: “Geeta is missed as a daughter, sister and friend, but most importantly as a mother to two young boys. What kind of life will those two young children now have?”

Geeta’s husband Harpreet Aulakh, 32, of Chesterton Close, Greenford has been jailed for at least 28 years, while Sher Singh, 19, of Wren Avenue, Southall has been jailed for a minimum of 22 years.

The jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict concerning Harpreet Singh, 20, of Elmwood Road, Slough.

He was remanded in custody to face a retrial on a date to be set.

He denies murder.