Prime Time Crime

By Asian Pacific News Service

Indian police are vowing not to impose the death penalty on the mother and uncle of a Maple Ridge beautician, whom they say conspired to kill the young woman because she married against their wishes.

Earlier this month they filed amended extradition papers - their fourth such application - to get B.C. millionaire blueberry farmer Surjit Singh Badesha and his sister Malkiat Kaur to stand trial in India.

The two now face a lesser charge of conspiracy to commit murder involving the sensational contract killing of Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu in June 2000.

Jaswinder, who was 25 when killed and who was the niece of Badesha and Malkiat's daughter, was apparently killed for marrying a poor man against her familys wishes.

"As far as Surjit Singh and Malkiat Kaur are concerned they are now being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, not murder, so they cannot be punished with a death sentence in this case...As far as the Indian penal code is concerned conspiracy cannot receive the death penalty," Senior Supt. of Police A.S. Rai told The Asian Pacific Post.

In a telephone interview from Sangrur, Punjab, Rai said police have moved the case to a fast-track court. "The court process should take around 6 to 8 months, and then we should get awarded a favourable verdict in the case," he said.

"Conspiracy to commit murder is more difficult to prove than murder itself. We are very confident that we have the evidence to prove conspiracy," he said.

Eleven others, including another uncle of Jaswinder's, an Indian police inspector and the leader of a local gang, were arrested in connection with case.

Their trial is ongoing before Additional Sessions Court Judge G.S. Dhiman in Sangrur, Punjab.

Jaswinder or Jassi went to school in Maple Ridge and worked at a local beauty salon.

She was kidnapped, beaten and strangled to death on June 8, 2000. Her body was found in a canal 45 kilometres from Kaonke Khosa, Punjab, where she had moved with her new husband, a poor rickshaw driver, three months earlier. Her wealthy Maple Ridge farming family, strong adherents of the Sikh faith, has denied any involvement in the incident, which also left Sidhu's husband severely injured.

Shortly after Jassis body was found with her throat slit, Indian police alleged that family members, including her mother and uncle, paid thugs up to $50,000 for the hit. Maple Ridge RCMP would only say their file on the case remains open.

Canada does not extradite accused persons to face the death penalty.