Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Jassi Sidhu 'Honour Killing': Punjab Cops Back From Canada Empty-Handed As Extradition Fails

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Sep, 2017 10:51 AM
    VANCOUVER — A defence lawyer says the extradition of two British Columbia residents to India to face murder charges was challenged in court because the federal justice minister's decision to surrender the pair failed to consider new information.
     
    Michael Klein said Surjit Singh Badesha and Malkit Kaur Sidhu were being escorted to India via Toronto on Thursday when the British Columbia Court of Appeal decided to halt their extradition.
     
    The three-member team of Punjab Police is set to return from Canada empty-handed after the extradition of Malkit Kaur and her brother Surjit Singh Badesha, who were to be brought to India to face trial in 2000 Jassi murder case, was stayed following a “judicial review” application moved by duo’s lawyer.
     
    A member of the Punjab Police team said they were on their way back and were “trying to get ourselves booked” for a return flight following the extradition stay after “judicial review” application moved by counsel of the accused. “The team is on its way back. More details would be available after their return,” said an Inspector General of Punjab Police.
     
     
    An expedited hearing Thursday was sought after Klein and lawyer David Crossin, who represents Sidhu, learned "through happenstance" that Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould had surrendered the pair to Indian authorities, Klein said.
     
    "I presume Mr. Crossin was making submissions in the court of appeal on behalf of both of them while they were in the air," he said.
     
    In 2014, an extradition judge committed the pair to face the charges in India.
     
    In a 9-0 judgment earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada set aside a B.C. Court of Appeal ruling that stopped extradition proceedings over concerns that the mother and uncle would be poorly treated or even tortured in India.
     
    The B.C. Appeal Court again halted the extradition on Thursday.
     
     
    Speaking for the majority, Justice Ian Donald said in the 2-1 decision that the circumstances as outlined by Crossin "persuaded me that there is an arguable case, that the minister's position ... constitutes a reviewable decision and, as such, is amenable to judicial review in their court under the Extradition Act."
     
    Justice Harvey M. Groberman dissented, saying the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the application for a judicial review.
     
    A written ruling said a hearing on the application has been adjourned to a later date "so that a proper record can be constructed and counsel can put together their arguments to assist the court."
     
    Klein said he wasn't informed about the surrender order "but it appears that the justice minister may have decided that these people should be surrendered without providing any notice or reasons to anyone."
     
    The new information was provided to the Justice Department in July or August and isn't based on any rumours apparently circulating on Facebook, Klein said, though he declined to provide details.
     
     
     
    The case involves the murder of Maple Ridge, B.C., resident Jaswinder (Jassi) Sidhu and the attempted murder of her husband Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu, who were travelling by scooter in the province of Punjab when they were attacked by armed men.
     
    Sukhwinder Sidhu was seriously injured and his wife's body was found on the bank of a canal after what Indian authorities allege was a hit ordered by the woman's mother and uncle.
     
    Police in India have said Sidhu secretly married a rickshaw driver in 1999 while on a trip to India from her home in Maple Ridge, B.C., inciting the anger of Badesha and her mother, who believed the marriage brought dishonour to the family.
     
    Indian police have said death threats were issued to the couple and phone calls were made from Badesha's home in B.C. to some of the perpetrators around the time of the attack.
     
    Klein said that despite the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that set aside the earlier ruling that stopped Badesha and Sidhu's extradition, the minister's decision to surrender the pair must still be justified.
     
     
    "We're not denying what the Supreme Court of Canada did," he said. "We're saying, 'Hold it a second. Please reconsider that order with the new information.
     
    "We appreciate that may be cumbersome and I'm sure there's a hue and cry about the delay in the proceedings but first and foremost the stakes are very high for these two individuals."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Air Canada Seeking Bank Credit Card Partner For New Loyalty Program

    Air Canada Seeking Bank Credit Card Partner For New Loyalty Program
    MONTREAL — Air Canada says it is launching a search for a co-branded credit card partner for its new loyalty program.

    Air Canada Seeking Bank Credit Card Partner For New Loyalty Program

    Trudeau Stands By Tax Reforms As Government Says Deficit Smaller Than Expected

    OTTAWA — The Liberal government will go ahead with controversial tax reforms despite clear new evidence the economy is rebounding, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.

    Trudeau Stands By Tax Reforms As Government Says Deficit Smaller Than Expected

    Woman Found Dead In Newfoundland Was Murdered, Spouse Died By Suicide: RCMP

    Woman Found Dead In Newfoundland Was Murdered, Spouse Died By Suicide: RCMP
    Police in eastern Newfoundland say an 18-year-old woman found dead in Marystown on the weekend was murdered, and her spouse killed himself.

    Woman Found Dead In Newfoundland Was Murdered, Spouse Died By Suicide: RCMP

    Accused In Slaying Of Montreal Store Clerk Sought Weapon Disposal Advice On Web

    MONTREAL — A man accused of killing a young store clerk in a Montreal grocery store allegedly used his smartphone to make numerous web searches in the days after the slaying that were related to the crime.

    Accused In Slaying Of Montreal Store Clerk Sought Weapon Disposal Advice On Web

    WATCH: Alberta Man Angry After Getting Ticket For Going One Kilometre Over Speed Limit

    WATCH: Alberta Man Angry After Getting Ticket For Going One Kilometre Over Speed Limit
      Mathieu Gagne, 31, said he was nabbed Friday in his Jeep for driving 101 kilometres in a 100-kilometre zone just north of Edmonton.

    WATCH: Alberta Man Angry After Getting Ticket For Going One Kilometre Over Speed Limit

    B.C. Teaching Material Linking 'Squaw' To 'Aboriginal Woman' Pulled For Review

    B.C. Teaching Material Linking 'Squaw' To 'Aboriginal Woman' Pulled For Review
    A parent took to social media over the weekend to express her shock about educational material used at Templeton Secondary School in Vancouver related to the graphic novel Susanna Moodie: Roughing it in the Bush.

    B.C. Teaching Material Linking 'Squaw' To 'Aboriginal Woman' Pulled For Review