Toronto: The British Columbia Supreme Court has convicted an Indian-origin man of second-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of his wife at their home in Abbotsford, rejecting the defence’s argument that he was not criminally responsible due to his mental state at the time of the offence.
According to court records, the accused, Jagpreet Singh, had moved to Canada under a spousal sponsorship shortly before the incident and began living with his wife, Mandeep Kaur, at her Abbotsford residence.
During the trial, the court heard that the couple had married in India before Mandeep Kaur settled in Canada. Jagpreet Singh later joined her through the sponsorship process, but tensions between the two allegedly escalated within days of his arrival.
The court also heard that Mandeep Kaur had expressed concerns to people close to her, saying she was afraid of her husband coming to Canada.
According to the prosecution, an argument at the couple’s home turned violent, during which Jagpreet Singh repeatedly attacked Mandeep Kaur with a knife. She suffered multiple fatal injuries and died at the scene.
Police found the accused inside the house when they arrived and took him into custody immediately.
The defence argued that Jagpreet Singh’s mental condition at the time meant he should not be held criminally responsible for his actions. However, the BC Supreme Court rejected that argument and found him guilty of second-degree murder. Sentencing will take place at a later date in accordance with Canadian law.
