Jagtar Gill’s brother had to be removed from court today after an angry outburst aimed at his brother in law.
"Open your eyes. Look at the picture" he yelled at Bhupinderpal Gill, on trial along with his alleged lover for the brutal murder of the 43 year old mother.
A warning that some of this information may be disturbing.
It was detailed testimony by the forensic pathologist of injuries to Jagtar Gill that prompted the outcry; a gruesome litany of cuts and bruises that left Jagtar's father in tears.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Christopher Milroy has testified in hundreds of murder cases. His description of dozens of injuries on Jagtar Gill's body was detailed and scientific.
But for Jagtar Gill's family, it was overwhelming.
“Open your eyes and look at that picture" Jagtar's brother Satnam Mann screamed at Bhupinderpal Gil as he was led out of the courtroom.
Jagtar's father had already left in tears.
Earlier in the day, court heard that first responders had been called to the Gill house that day in January of 2014 for what appeared to be a suicide.
Jagtar's 15-year-old daughter had discovered her mother dead on the floor of their family room when she and her father Bhupinderpal Gill had returned home from a shopping trip.
But a quick assessment of the scene led Dr Milroy to determine this was a murder.
“The most striking reason why I thought this was a homicide,” he told court, “were the injuries to her fingers and wrist that are caused by a sharp-edged weapon. Those are defence injuries likely to grab the knife."
It's clear Jagtar tried to defend herself from the initial blows to her head, arms and legs. But she could not survive the "deep penetrating wound to her throat,” that Milroy says cut right to the spinal column.
Earlier in court, Cst. Ian Matyas with the Ottawa Police testified that Bhupinderpal Gill seemed to be in a “state of shock at the house” the day of the murder, staring off in a daze.
He told court Gill said to him "bring her back. I would ask you to bring her back but I know you can't. We worked so hard to get this house ready. If I had known this would happen..."
Then Matyas says Gill's voice trailed off.
Some of the jury members told the judge they were concerned about the photos they were about to see of Jagtar's injuries and asked that they be able to take a break if need be.
