Gill, Ronald found guilty of first-degree murder in new trial
Bhupinderpal Gill and Gurpreet Ronald have again been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Jagtar Gill following a new trial.
Jagtar Gill was found bludgeoned and stabbed to death in her Barrhaven home on her wedding anniversary in 2014. Her husband Bhupinderpal Gill and his lover Gurpreet Ronald were convicted of her murder in 2016.
However, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled the trial judge made a legal error when instructing the jury and ordered a new trial.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein delivered the new guilty verdict Tuesday.
Gill and Ronald had both pleaded not guilty to the murder. Ronald testified that she found Jagtar Gill's body and left in a panic, while Bhupinderpal Gill denied that he ever discussed killing his wife with Ronald.
The Crown argued that Gill and Ronald conspired to kill Jagtar and that it was Ronald who carried it out.
In her decision Justice London-Weinstein said she was "satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Gurpreet Ronald killed Jagtar Gill," adding “Mr. Gill is as culpable as Ms. Ronald.”
"The inescapable inference of all the evidence is that Gurpreet Ronald murdered Jagtar Gill," said London-Weinstein. "Mr. Gill is as culpable as Ms. Ronald in the murder of his wife… The two of them planned and deliberated upon the murder together."
London-Weinstein said part of the evidence that supports the verdict is the fact that this crime was committed when Jagtar was at her weakest, home alone recovering from surgery. Ronald brought her own gloves to the home, Bhupinderpal made sure Jagtar was home alone, and he left the door unlocked, she said, to make sure that Ronald could get in.
A victim impact statement, read in court on behalf of Jagtar Gill's parents, said they lost a loving daughter who was herself greatly loved.
"Words cannot express the pain and anguish that we, at this age, and our family and friends have endured since murder of our daughter Jagtar. The defendant’s decision to take the life of a human being with no regard for the effect it may have on others is unimaginable and unpardonable," the statement said. "We as parents and our entire family, are forever “broken” and devoid of our daughter's love, care and compassion and will always remain so.
"Jagtar, your short life enriched the lives of so many people. You will never be forgotten. You are loved forever. Our dear Jagtar, as you know, we could not lay you to rest following your death. Our darling daughter, may you now rest in peace."
A first-degree murder conviction comes with an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Gill's lawyer said it is too early to say whether they will appeal.
"We're very disappointed. Apparently her honour indicated that her reasons are 256 pages so I'll have to read that over very carefully and then discuss what my client wanted to do going forward," James Harbic said.
In a statement, Ronald's lawyer says she too is disappointed, adding, "We will take the necessary time to carefully review the court's detailed and lengthy decision before determining any potential next steps."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.