Canada to expedite trial of four Indian citizens in Nijjar murder case
Prosecutors invoked direct indictment to skip preliminary hearings against the men, who are accused of killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
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The Canadian government has invoked a “direct indictment” against four Indian citizens in the murder case of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, reported The Indian Express quoting an official with the British Columbia Prosecution Service.
The direct indictment will allow for the four Indians’ trial to proceed directly to the Supreme Court of Canada, bypassing a preliminary hearing in a lower court where defence lawyers typically cross-examine prosecution witnesses and gather evidence.
The four Indians are Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh. They were initially scheduled for a Surrey Provincial Court hearing on November 21. That appearance has been cancelled and the case will proceed in the Canadian Supreme Court on February 11, 2025, The Indian Express reported.
A spokesperson for the British Columbia Prosecution Service explained to the newspaper the reasoning behind the direct indictment, saying: “This special measure, rarely used, ensures that individuals who ought to be tried are brought to court, particularly in cases where witness safety or public interest are at stake.”
The four men were arrested in May 2024 for the killing of Nijjar on June 18, 2023. They face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Judicial proceedings since their arrest have been repeatedly delayed and the case has been adjourned...
