Abbotsford News Tuesday, December 3, 2013
A5
Abbotsford man found criminally responsible for 2010 murder Judge rules that Khosa ‘able to make rational choice’ Vikki HOPES
Amarjit lived in a basement suite with their widowed mother, and Khosa often stepped in when his sister became verbally or physically abusive toward their mom, the court heard. Several family members testified that, leading up to the murder, Khosa was quiet and withdrawn and was talking to himself. He had also been having “religious delusions” in which he believed the Guru Nanak Dev – the founder of the Sikh religion – was talking to him. On the day of the killing, Khosa received a call to pick up his mom from the basement suite. Amarjit had again
Khosa at first denied any role in the killing, but confessed to officers on July 28, 2010, saying his conscience A B.C. Supreme Court judge has found wouldn’t let him rest. He was arrested an Abbotsford man guilty of secondand charged the following March and degree murder, saying he fatally stabbed was released on bail two months later. his sister out of anger and frustration In reaching her decision, the judge over the problems she was causing their said she weighed statements that Khosa family. made to police and psychiatrists and Justice Miriam Maisonville, ruling at during his own testimony. the New Westminster courthouse on These statements were often conflictWednesday, rejected Harmohinder ing. In one case, he stated that he heard Khosa’s defence that he was not crimia voice saying, “If you want to save her, nally responsible for the death of his then you kill her.” sister, Amarjit Khosa, due to a mental In another, he said he came up with disorder. the idea to kill his sister, and the voice Khosa receives an automatic life sen– which he betence, but returns lieved to be the to court Dec. 20 Guru Nanak – to determine the told him it would length of time he be OK. should serve beHe also said he fore he is eligible wanted to kill to apply for parole. Amarjit to ease This ranges from her misery, but 10 to 25 years. told a police offiHe remains in cer that he killed the community on her because he court-ordered conwas angry and ditions until that frustrated over date. her behaviour. Khosa, 43, adKhosa also tesmitted to killing tified that he told his sister in her Amarjit, “You Abbotsford home have bothered us on July 21, 2010, too much” before but was on trial to killing her. determine whether Maisonville he should be held said she acceptcriminally responed the evidence sible for the act. of the Crown’s During Khosa’s VIKKI HOPES Abbotsford News expert witness, trial, it was revealed that Amarjit, 34, Harmohinder Khosa (left) stands with his lawyers Brij Mohan (right) and Sukh Kalkat outside of a psychiatrist, B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster on Wednesday (Nov. 27) following the ruling in his trial. that Khosa had had been stabbed been stable leadwith a steak knife become aggressive, and their mom was ing up to the killing and would not have 13 times in her head and neck. digressed into an “acute episode” – and Khosa’s defence was that he was de- scared of what she would do. Khosa brought his mom to his residence back again – so quickly. lusional and was experiencing a “psyShe said she did not believe that a chotic break from reality” at the time of for safety. Amarjit then called the house several times, demanding to know when voice “commanded” Khosa to kill his the killing. sister because the voices he had heard Crown counsel asserted that Khosa their mom would be returning home. After one such call, Khosa testified in the past had not told him to do things understood what he was doing at the time of the murder and knew that it was that he took a black-handled steak knife that were outside of his moral beliefs. from a drawer in his kitchen and drove “I find that it [Amarjit’s behaviour] bemorally and legally wrong. The court was told that he was diag- to see Amarjit. Once there, he stabbed came too much for him to bear … and he nosed with paranoid schizophrenia in her multiple times, left the house and made the decision to go to Amarjit’s residence to kill her … I find that Mr. Khosa 1996, after hearing voices and halluci- returned home. He then washed the steak knife and re- was able to make a rational choice,” nating that snakes were crawling on his turned it to the drawer. He also washed Maisonville said. legs. Speaking outside of the courthouse, He has been on medication ever since the jacket he was wearing, which had been bloodied in the violent attack. Khosa’s lawyer, Brij Mohan, said his cliand regularly visits his doctor. He did not tell anyone about what ent will be considering appealing the Amarjit was also diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and family mem- had happened. Family members, who judge’s decision. “Mr. Khosa is a very ill person. It will bers testified that Khosa, who is married were concerned they could not reach with two kids, was a caring and protec- Amarjit, went to her residence and dis- take some time to digest the informative big brother who watched out for her. covered her body. tion,” Mohan said.
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