Nijjar murder: Trial against 4 Indians to proceed without preliminary hearing
PTC News Desk: The Canada government has moved the Nijjar murder case from Surrey provincial court to to the British Columbia Supreme Court after the prosecution sought direct indictments against 4 Indians accused for killing Hardeep Singh Nijjar. As the case has been moved to BC Supreme Court, the 4 accused Indians will face direct indictments without preliminary hearings. The pre-trial proceedings in the Surrey provincial court have been stayed.
The superseding of this significant step means that the accused’s defense counsel has lost the chance of cross-examining the prosecution witnesses and discover the case against their client before the actual trial begins.
The four accused, Karan Brar, Kamalpreet Singh, Karanpreet Singh and Amandeep Singh, are in holding facilities. Four accused were due to appear for the hearing on November 21 which however stands canceled. They will instead appear on February 11, 2025.
Under the Canadian Criminal Code, direct indictment is a special power used sparingly, recognizing the Attorney General’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that those who ought to be brought to trial are indeed brought to trial. It is typically invoked only in specific circumstances of public interest, such as when there is reasonable concern for the safety of witnesses, their families, or informers.
- With inputs from agencies
