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

    Lawyers Urge Suspended Sentence For Calgary Woman Who Faked Cancer Diagnosis

    Lawyers Urge Suspended Sentence For Calgary Woman Who Faked Cancer Diagnosis
    CALGARY — A Calgary woman who pretended to have cancer and claimed to be a Fort McMurray wildfire evacuee to cash in on donations will not be going to jail.

    Lawyers Urge Suspended Sentence For Calgary Woman Who Faked Cancer Diagnosis

    Hollywood Director James Cameron Invests In Saskatchewan Pea-Processing Plant

    Hollywood Director James Cameron Invests In Saskatchewan Pea-Processing Plant
    VANSCOY, Sask. — Hollywood director James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron have announced they are investing in an organic pea-processing plant in Saskatchewan.

    Hollywood Director James Cameron Invests In Saskatchewan Pea-Processing Plant

    Omar Khadr Visits With Sister Remain Restricted, But Can Use Internet Freely

    EDMONTON — Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr has been denied unsupervised visits with his controversial older sister who has expressed support for al-Qaida.

    Omar Khadr Visits With Sister Remain Restricted, But Can Use Internet Freely

    Chief Calls To End Moose Hunt In B.C. Following Wildfires, Habitat Loss

    WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — A First Nations chief is calling on the British Columbia government to halt the moose hunt this year, arguing the historic wildfire season has caused enough trauma to the species.

    Chief Calls To End Moose Hunt In B.C. Following Wildfires, Habitat Loss

    University Of British Columbia Faces New Sexual Assault Human-Rights Complaint

    University Of British Columbia Faces New Sexual Assault Human-Rights Complaint
    VANCOUVER — Stephanie Hale remembers jumping up and down and crying tears of joy when she received her acceptance letter from the University of British Columbia.

    University Of British Columbia Faces New Sexual Assault Human-Rights Complaint

    B.C.'s Only Support Group For HIV-Positive Women Closes After Funding Cuts

    B.C.'s Only Support Group For HIV-Positive Women Closes After Funding Cuts
    She was addicted to drugs and sleeping in decrepit hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside when she was diagnosed with HIV about 13 years ago. She assumed it was a death sentence.

    B.C.'s Only Support Group For HIV-Positive Women Closes After Funding Cuts