Recently, two men, Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Canadian Court for the killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a Sikh man previously acquitted in the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing case. This plea was made just before their trial was set to begin.
Malik, 75, was shot multiple times outside his family business in Surrey, British Columbia, on July 14, 2022. He was acquitted in 2005 alongside co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri of mass murder and conspiracy charges related to the bombings that Killed 331 people. In the British Columbia Supreme Court, both Fox and Lopez admitted to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. An agreed statement of facts indicated they had been hired to kill Malik, with financial incentives involved, though specifics remain undisclosed.
The Court proceedings highlighted the troubling nature of the crime, as described by Lopez’s lawyer, Gloria Ng, who emphasised the financial motivations behind the murder. She noted, “One of the things we certainly have in the forefront of our minds is the youth of our client Lopez is a very young man, and we are certainly hopeful with prospects for rehabilitation”. Malik's family expressed their grief, referring to him as a "father, brother, husband, and grandfather" and a dedicated community leader. They acknowledged the justice served but urged further action, stating, "The work is not complete... until the parties responsible for hiring them and directing this assassination are brought to justice."
The Crown and defence have agreed to a 20-year parole ineligibility period for both defendants, with sentencing scheduled for October 31.
The 1985 Air India bombing remains one of Canada’s deadliest terrorist attacks. Flight 182 was bombed mid-flight, killing all 329 people on board, while a separate explosion in Tokyo claimed two lives. Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only person convicted for his involvement in the bombings, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in making the bombs and for perjury during trials.
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