Canada, Ottawa: The trial of four Indian nationals charged with the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has been postponed for the fourth time. This case, which has caused tension between Canada and India, will now resume on October 1.
The delay was announced after the Crown prosecutor informed the Surrey court that the defense had been given approximately 10,000 pages of evidence, with an additional similar volume expected within a week. The prosecutor indicated that the entire process might extend for several more months.
August 7, 2024
The accused—Amandeep Singh, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh—attended the court proceedings via a virtual connection. Their four defense attorneys, along with Crown prosecutor Louise Kenworthy, also appeared remotely to request the adjournment.
Kenworthy explained, "The Crown has been working diligently to provide disclosure to the defendants.Surrey Now-Leader has reported that I have notified my colleagues that it will probably take several more months to obtain the full substantive disclosure.
Najjar was fatally shot outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara on June 18, 2023. Four individuals have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The relationship between India and Canada deteriorated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the possible involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's death.
Outside the Surrey provincial court, Nijjar's supporters displayed Khalistan flags. Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the British Columbia (BC) Gurdwaras Council, expressed frustration over the trial's delay, noting that it was disheartening for Nijjar's family and the community. However, he acknowledged that such delays are part of the Canadian legal process.
