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Tuesday December 4, 2012
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2 charged in Maple Batalia murder SFU student’s ex-boyfriend and his ‘associate’ arrested
by Kevin Diakiw
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
Maple Batalia’s sister Roseleen (left), father Harkirat and mother Sarabjit attend a police news conference Saturday night announcing an arrest of two men in Maple’s 2011 murder in Surrey.
EDITION
ONE OF the men charged in the murder of SFU Surrey student Maple Batalia – Gurjinder (Gary) Dhaliwal –will be pleading not guilty, his lawyer said. On Monday morning, Dhaliwal and the second man charged in the case – Gursimar Singh Bedi – appeared in Surrey Provincial Court. On Sept. 28, 2011, 19-year-old Batalia was gunned down on the third floor of the Central City parkade, beside Simon Fraser University, following a late-night study session. She had been studying with friends and had left for the parkade just before 1 a.m., when she was shot multiple times in what police believe was a targeted attack. She died later in hospital. At a news conference Saturday night, police announced that Maple’s ex-boyfriend, Dhaliwal, 20, and his “associate,” 22-year-old Bedi, had been charged in her murder. Dhaliwal has been charged with first-degree murder, Gurjinder while Bedi has been charged with manslaughter with a Dhaliwal in firearm and accessory after the fact. 2009. Dhaliwal’s lawyer David Albert reminded those gathered outside the Surrey courthouse Monday that his client is innocent until proven guilty. Dhaliwal, with spiky hair and a beard, sat in the prisoner’s box with his arms crossed, glancing periodically to look at the audience. Bedi appeared in court by video link.
See FAMILY / Page 3
Guilty in death of senior Grandfather struck while waiting at Surrey bus stop
by Sheila Reynolds A SURREY man who struck and killed an 83-year-old
grandfather who was waiting at a bus stop three years ago has been found guilty. Gurjit Dhillon, 28, was facing a charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. (A street racing charge was dropped in late August due to unreliable witness testimony.) Pritam Benning, 83, was grievously injured in the 2009 rush hour crash at the busy intersection of 128 Street and 72 Avenue. He died five days later without
gaining consciousness long enough for family to speak with him. On Friday in Surrey Provincial Court, Judge James Jardine found that Dhillon’s driving was “obviously dangerous” that day and that he drove with “intentional risk” that caused his car to lose control, spin through the intersection and strike the bench where Benning was waiting. Jardine said the entire incident, which ended with “horrific consequences,” happened in a matter of seconds. The judge found that Dhillon, driving his See SON / Page 3
EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
Gurjit Dhillon leaves Surrey Provincial Court with his wife (centre) on Friday afternoon.
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