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The Canadian government is set to proceed with the hearing of four Indian citizens accused of killing pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar without a preliminary hearing, Hindustan Times reported.
According to HT, the case against Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh, and Karanpreet Singh has been moved from Surrey Provincial Court to the British Columbia Supreme Court after the prosecution asked for their direct indictment.
The direct indictment would lead to the direct trial of the case without a preliminary hearing. According to a report in The Indian Express, skipping the initial process would deprive the defence counsel of an opportunity to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. The council would also miss the chance to discover the case against its client before the actual trial.
A spokesperson for the BC Prosecution Service, Ministry of Attorney General confirmed the development to Hindustan Times. It said that the prosecution, called the Crown in Canada, moved for the stay of proceedings in the provincial court.
All four accused appeared in the Supreme Court on November 18. Communications Counsel Damienne Darby told HT that all four appeared in court by video, except Amandeep Singh, who appeared by counsel designation.
There is no information about the exact date of the beginning of the trial, an official told IE. The official also abstained from giving information on a potential timeline.
The four accused were set to appear in the Surrey Provincial Court for a hearing on November 21, but the hearing was cancelled.
Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered on June 18, 2023. Nijjar’s killing sparked diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead on the premises of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia (BC). Four Indians have been arrested in the case. However, the trial is moving at an extremely slow pace. The case has been adjourned five times since their arrest, reported IE.