A British Columbia man who killed a woman and stabbed a toddler is facing deportation after prison

A Surrey man who stabbed a defenseless woman as she held her two-year-old daughter and also stabbed the child and the mother’s 72-year-old father will be deported without the right to appeal after his release to put in prison.

Crown prosecutor Mark Bussanich argued for an “appropriate” prison sentence of 12 years, while defense attorney Glen Orris argued Harpreet Singh’s crimes did not warrant more than eight years.

Singh was originally charged with second-degree murder in Baljit Kaur’s death, but pleaded guilty to the lesser crime of manslaughter and aggravated assault in the deaths of 72-year-old Jagjit Singh and the child, identified only as MK

All three were taken to hospital where Kaur died.

Singh’s sentencing hearing was held Thursday in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in New Westminster, presided over by Justice Martha Devlin.

The attacks occurred on October 20, 2020 at a townhouse in the 12700 block of 66 Avenue in Newton.

Bussanich cited Devlin as aggravating factors that “catapult this case into the aggravated homicide category,” namely the use of a knife and “the brutality of the killing.”

“Baljit Kaur was repeatedly stabbed, resulting in injuries to his head, torso and leg, so the injury was all over his body. The attack began while Baljit Kaur was holding her two-year-old daughter MK. This put MK at risk of being seriously injured.” “A risk that was ultimately expressed by the wound she sustained,” Bussanich told the judge.

“Mr. Singh continued the attack on Baljit after MK fell to the ground despite MK crying. The Crown says this is aggravating because there is clearly an event that could have stopped this brutality – a realization that is now a child.” “Mr Singh is lying on the floor crying,” the prosecutor continued. “Mr Singh also continued the attack despite Jagjit Singh trying to intervene.”

Bussanich noted that Kaur was “defenseless – she had no weapon – and she was made even more defenseless by the fact that she was holding her child in one arm. The attack occurred against a family member, which is a statutory aggravating circumstance.”

The Crown noted Singh had no previous convictions. “As a result of his conviction on all three counts, Mr. Singh’s immigration status dictates that he be deported without the right to appeal.”

Singh pleaded guilty to the crimes nearly four years after five trial dates were set. “I also submit that Mr. Singh cannot claim remorse as a mitigating factor,” given that Singh told a doctor “he was justified in his actions and did not express sympathy or remorse.”

Bussanich added that he also could not cite mental illness or drunkenness to lessen his guilt. “Really, this is about the inability to control anger.”

“Again, Mr Singh was not psychotic, he was not under the influence of drugs. He simply couldn’t control his anger and acted impulsively.”

“There was no deliberation, but he definitely had time to think about his actions,” Bussanich said. “We agree that something was said above by Baljit Kaur and Harpreet Singh. The only person who can pass on what this was, who is still alive, is the perpetrator.”

He called it “clearly a near-murder” and “a significant aggravated manslaughter.”

Meanwhile, Orris told Devlin that certain injuries Singh suffered in Australia had changed him and that his victims were “not dealing with the real person they knew”.

“It is this factor that distinguishes this case from the second-degree murder charge with which he was originally charged.”

Orris noted that Singh told people at the scene to call the police. “He never said I wasn’t responsible.”

He said he was unsure whether Singh would be deported to Australia or India after his parole as his client was a citizen of both countries.

Singh did not address the court.

Devlin reserved her judgment on the sentencing until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9.