An Indo-Canadian man and his mistress have been given life sentences, without the option for parole for 25 years, after being found guilty by a jury for the brutal murder of his wife in January 2014.
The accused were 40-year-old Bhupinderpal Gill, and Gurpreet Ronald, 37, who were then in an extramarital relationship.
In finding them guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday, the jury in Ottawa sided with the investigators’ testimony that Ronald had killed 43-year-old Jagtar Gill. The jury reached its decision after six days of deliberation following a trial that lasted more than two months.
Jagtar was murdered after her husband had left their home on the morning of January 29, 2014. Ronald went to the residence in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven, and killed Jagtar, who was bedridden while recovering from surgery.
Ronald, according to police, repeatedly bludgeoned Jagtar Gill, a mother of three children, and also stabbed her. That day also happened to be 17th anniversary of the victim’s marriage to Bhupinderpal.
While Ronald was arrested by the police on April 7, 2014, Bhupinderpal was taken into custody a week later.
{{/usCountry}}While Ronald was arrested by the police on April 7, 2014, Bhupinderpal was taken into custody a week later.
{{/usCountry}}According to reports of the trial, emotions ran high in the courtroom as the verdict was reached. The proceedings ended after Jagtar’s niece Ramandeep Chahal read out an anguished statement on behalf of her family, which said, “Jagtar’s children have been robbed of a mother’s love, there is no closure, as we often hear”.
“There is no moving on. There’s nothing, and we mean absolutely nothing, that makes you feel better. They say time heals all wounds but we have to disagree. The only thing time has done for our family is to move the tragic loss of Jagtar further away. It hasn’t made it better.”
The conspirators had met while working as bus drivers in Ottawa. A secret affair ensued, leading to the horrific killing.
The Ottawa Citizen reported that in accordance with her wishes, Jagtar’s ashes will be scattered in India.