Canadian man found guilty of first-degree, attempted murder in killing of Muslim family

Published November 16,2023

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Nathaniel Veltman was discovered responsible Thursday of first-degree and tried homicide within the killings of 4 members of a Muslim household in London, Ontario in 2021.

The 12-member jury took six hours to succeed in the decision after a 10-week trial. Veltman additionally confronted terror fees, the primary time such fees had been positioned earlier than a jury in Canada.

The Afzaal household was out for a stroll on the night of June 6 in London, Ontario and strolled on the sidewalk once they have been mowed down by a half-ton truck pushed by Veltman,22 — a self-confessed white nationalist.

The father, Salman, 46, his mom Talat, 74, his spouse Madiha Salman, 44 and daughter Yumna, 15, have been killed. Salman’s son, who was 9 on the time, survived the assault however was critically injured and left an orphan.

Veltman pleaded not responsible and his protection lawyer argued the crime was not premeditated, a circumstance needed to seek out one accused responsible of first-degree homicide in Canada.

But the prosecution mentioned it was a deliberate terror assault motivated by a political, ideological or spiritual goal supposed to intimidate the general public.

Under Canadian legislation, the explanations for a verdict are secret, so the discovering for the decision — whereas the jury sided with the prosecution’s argument — just isn’t identified.

The crime was dedicated in London however the trial was held in Windsor, Ontario, 165 kilometers (102 miles) away. The motive for the change of venue was below a courtroom publication ban.

The courtroom was packed as the decision was delivered, lots of the spectators have been Muslims who had traveled from London.

“We hope that this final chapter in the legal saga following the attack will soon serve as a step toward healing for the affected family and the community in London, Ontario,” the National Council of Canadian Muslims mentioned in a press release after the decision was delivered.

“It is time to build a better Canada that truly challenges the spike in Islamophobic hate crimes that has plagued Canada. We have become a leader among G-7 nations in Islamophobia-related fatalities,” it added.