Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a major verdict, a Canadian court has sentenced Indian-origin man Balraj Basra to 25 years in prison for his involvement in a 2022 homicide case that shook the community. The judgment was delivered by a jury at the Supreme Court of British Columbia, which found Basra guilty of first-degree murder and arson.

According to reports, the incident took place on October 17, 2022, when 38-year-old Vishal Walia was fatally shot at a golf club located on the lands of the University of British Columbia. Investigations revealed that Basra, along with his accomplices Iqbal Kang and Deandre Baptiste, was directly involved in the shooting. The trio later set a vehicle on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and the Richmond Royal Canadian Mounted Police, acted swiftly. Within minutes of the crime, the suspects were tracked and arrested following a joint operation involving the British Columbia Highway Patrol.

The court has already sentenced the other two men involved. Kang received 17 years in prison with an additional five-year concurrent sentence for arson, while Baptiste was sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 17 years.

Authorities confirmed that Basra’s conviction marks the third and final sentencing in this long-running investigation led by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT).

This verdict brings a sense of closure to a case that left the community in shock and underlined the growing concerns over gun violence in Canada. Officials hailed the combined efforts of investigative teams and the court system in ensuring that justice was served.

The 2022 homicide case continues to serve as a reminder of the devastating consequences of organized violence — and the relentless pursuit of justice for victims and their families.

#world news #Global News