Trial against 4 Indians accused of killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar adjourned again

The trial against four Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has been adjourned for the fourth time. The case, which has strained Canada-India relations, has been postponed until October 1.

The trial was postponed after the Crown prosecutor told the Surrey court that the defence had received about 10,000 pages of disclosure and would get a similar number in a week. The prosecutor said the entire process could "take some months more".

All the four accused - Amandeep Singh, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh - appeared virtually before the court.

Four defence lawyers appeared on behalf of their clients virtually, along with Crown prosecutor Louise Kenworthy, who requested the adjournment.

"The Crown has been working diligently to get disclosure to the defendants in this matter, but I have advised my friends the process of getting the substantive disclosure in this matter is going to take some months more," Kenworthy said, as reported by Surrey Now-Leader.

Nijjar was shot dead outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara on June 18, 2023. All the four accused face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The ties between India and Canada nosedived after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

KHALISTANI FLAGS WAVED OUTSIDE THE COURT

Outside the Surrey provincial court, supporters of Nijjar waved Khalistan flags. Speaking on the delay in the trial, Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the British Columbia (BC) Gurdwaras Council, said it was frustrating for the family members of Nijjar.

"The time it's taking for the trial to actually start can be frustrating to the family, for others in the community, but we do understand that this is a part of the process in the Canadian judicial system," Moninder Singh was quoted as saying by Surrey Now-Leader.