Sherwood Park man convicted of second-degree homicide in brazen 2021 capturing of spouse, nephew

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A Sherwood Park funeral dwelling proprietor who opened fireplace on his spouse and her nephew on a busy street has been convicted of homicide and firearms offences.

Gamdur Brar didn’t outwardly react as Court docket of King’s Bench Justice Stephen Hillier discovered him responsible Friday of second-degree homicide and discharging a firearm with intent.

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He was initially charged with first-degree homicide for the dying of 19-year-old Harmanjot Bhattal, and tried homicide for capturing his spouse, Satvir Brar.

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The shootings occurred throughout a chaotic chase on the morning of Might 7, 2021, throughout rush hour in Sherwood Park. Court docket heard Satvir was driving Bhattal’s Mitsubishi Lancer when somebody in Gamdur Brar’s BMW Z4 pulled alongside and fired 4 photographs from a handgun.

The photographs hit each Satvir and Bhattal. After they pulled over and tried to run, the assailant shot Bhattal twice within the head as Satvir escaped with a passing motorist.

The primary concern at trial was whether or not Gamdur Brar was the shooter — a truth Hillier had no hassle concluding.

“In its totality, the proof is overwhelming as to identification,” he stated. “I’ve no cheap doubt that on Might 7, 2021, the accused drove the Z4 in pursuit of the Mitsubishi and shot each Satvir and Harman.” 

Hillier did have doubts, nevertheless, about whether or not the homicide was deliberate and deliberate, in addition to whether or not Brar supposed to kill Satvir, main him to convict on the lesser prices.

Try and flee husband

Court docket heard Satvir was fed up along with her husband’s ingesting and deliberate to cover for a number of days in hopes he would cease. She left the house at night time, carrying pyjamas, flip flops and a coat. As soon as she was removed from the home, she referred to as Bhattal, who picked her up within the Mitsubishi.

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Bhattal was the son of Satvir’s cousin, who lives in India. He got here to Canada to review at NAIT and was working two jobs on the time of his dying. Satvir was crying and scared as they drove round searching for a spot she may keep. When a lodge refused to take Bhattal’s bank card, they spent the night time at Satvir’s sister-in-law’s home.

Early that morning, Gamdur Brar referred to as police and reported his spouse lacking. Six officers attended the household dwelling and realized Satvir was on the sister-in-law’s dwelling after talking to the household’s eldest son, who talked together with his mom on the telephone. The officers referred to as to substantiate Satvir, instructed Gamdur Brar and left the house.

As they have been leaving, one of many officers observed Brar shifting the Z4, telling them he “simply wished to have the automobile prepared in case Satvir returned.”

Bhattal and Satvir left the sister-in-law’s dwelling simply earlier than 6 a.m. She drove the Mitsubishi to a Tim Hortons in a Sobeys parking zone and purchased drinks. Satvir nonetheless wished to go away for a number of days and referred to as her sons, asking them to satisfy her on the grocery retailer.

Instantly, she noticed the Z4 dashing previous on Baseline Highway. Panicked, she drove out the again entrance onto Clover Bar Highway, then turned left via a purple gentle onto Baseline Highway. Court docket heard she was attempting to get dwelling to guard her sons.

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The BMW pulled alongside and she or he heard a loud noise, adopted by Bhattal screaming. She noticed blood. The Z4 then sideswiped the Mitsubishi, inflicting it to hit a curb, breaking an axle and blowing each entrance tires.

Satvir climbed out of the automobile and instructed Bhattal to run.

After the Mitsubishi crashed, Gamdur Brar stopped, exited the BMW and shot Bhattal twice within the head. Satvir managed to flee after flagging down a person in a truck. He took her to hospital, the place she was handled for a gunshot wound to her hand and arm.

Throughout her testimony, Satvir didn’t establish her husband because the shooter. Hillier stated Satvir appeared anguished in courtroom, noting she “stays devoted” to her husband and should have been attempting “to assist or no less than not harm” him along with her testimony.

Satvir did, nevertheless, inform a 911 operator her husband was the one capturing at them. She additionally gave a prolonged, pained assertion in hospital about Bhattal’s dying.

“He got here to Canada for his brilliant future and he’s solely the one youngster,” she stated. “What am I going to say to his dad and mom now? My husband killed him?” 

She additionally defended her husband, saying “he does a lot for us. He by no means say no to me in my life. Why’s he going to kill me?”

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Crown suggests honour killing as attainable motive

Gamdur Brar referred to as RCMP from the household funeral dwelling an hour after the capturing and surrendered to police.

Investigators have been unable to search out the gun used to shoot Satvir and Bhattal — later decided to be a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver.

Gamdur Brar was the registered proprietor of a Smith & Wesson .357, which was usually saved in a gun protected within the household dwelling. The gun was reported “misplaced” 10 days after the capturing.

Whereas the Crown doesn’t must show motive, Hillier stated there was robust proof Gamdur Brar acted as a result of he “attributed blame or dishonour to Harman’s involvement with Satvir.”

Hillier rejected arguments from defence lawyer Brian Beresh suggesting another person had entry to the Z4, or that eyewitness testimony made the shooter’s identification ambiguous.

Nevertheless, Hillier additionally rejected the Crown’s argument that the choice to kill Bhattal was a deliberate a homicide.

“It’s questionable whether or not the motion of firing the ultimate two photographs that killed Harman … with witnesses current, was rigorously thought out,” he stated. “This isn’t a critique of whether or not it was an excellent plan, solely that it appeared to lack any, a lot much less cautious, consideration of the implications.”

As for capturing on the Mitsubishi, Brar’s actions have been “reckless” however not proof he supposed to kill both Satvir and Bhattal.

Brar, who’s in custody, shall be sentenced Nov. 10. Second-degree homicide carries a life sentence with no probability of parole for no less than 10 years.

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