A man who caused the death of four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, is undergoing a sentencing hearing today. In the courtroom sketch, Nathaniel Veltman, the accused, is seen along with Justice Renee Pomerance, Crown Counsel Jennifer Moser, Crown Counsel Sarah Shaikh, defence counsel Peter Ketcheson, and defence counsel Christopher Hicks. The hearing, which resumed on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, is being closely observed as legal representatives and the court reporter monitor the


January 24, 2024

The sentencing hearing for Nathaniel Veltman, a 23-year-old man convicted by a Windsor, Ont. jury in November 2023, concluded on Tuesday. Veltman faced charges of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for the tragic events that occurred on June 6, 2021, in London, Ont. On that day, members of the Afzaal family—grandmother Talat, her son Salman, his wife Madiha, and their daughter Yumnah—were killed while walking down the street. The family's nine-year-old son sustained serious injuries but survived.

During the hearing, Veltman expressed regret for the loss of the Afzaal family. He acknowledged that the four innocent lives lost and the young boy left alone were direct consequences of his actions. Despite maintaining his trial testimony, he accepted responsibility for the pain and suffering he caused, particularly highlighted during the victim impact statements earlier in the month. Veltman, while unable to turn back time, revealed insights into his own mental health disorders that played a role in the tragic incident. He expressed a commitment to self-improvement and availing himself of opportunities for personal growth.

In response to Veltman's statement, there was limited reaction from family and friends in the courtroom. However, family members, Ali and Hina Islam, Madiha’s aunt and uncle, provided a statement outside the courtroom. They deemed Veltman's words as a strategic move rather than a genuine apology. They criticized his failure to confess earlier, labelling the trial and various evidence as unnecessary revictimization of the family. The statement emphasized the lack of a true apology and accused Veltman of concealing his intent to intimidate a segment of the Canadian population behind hollow words.

Nathaniel Veltman is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22. The judge will determine whether his actions qualify as terrorism and decide on the sentence for the attempted murder conviction. Regardless, Veltman faces a life sentence, and he is ineligible for parole until 2046.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Labour minister asks Industrial Relations Board to Resolve Canada Post dispute

Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon has referred the ongoing labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers....

China Plans to Be First to Return Mars Samples to Earth

China's ambitious Tianwen-3 mission could make it the first nation to successfully return samples from Mars to Earth. Scheduled to....

3,700 Malibu residents return home as weather aids firefighting efforts

A wildfire that started earlier this week in Malibu, California, has forced thousands to evacuate, including celebrities and students. As....

Canada Sets New Target For 2035 to Cut Emissions By 45-50%

Canada has set a new target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels by 2035, the....

The Geminid meteor shower is here, offering one of the year's best skyshows

December isn’t just about the festive season; it’s also the time for one of the year’s most exciting celestial events....

Malibu wildfire spreads; evacuations continue as weather aids firefighters.

A wildfire in Malibu, California, fueled by strong winds, has rapidly expanded, forcing thousands to flee their homes, including celebrities....

Malibu wildfire forces evacuations for 20,000, including Dick Van Dyke, Cher

Firefighters in Southern California are facing fierce conditions as they battle a wind-driven wildfire that has forced around 20,000 people,....

Murder Suspect in UnitedHealth Executive Case Shows Outburst as Motives Surface

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect charged with the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, made headlines during his court appearance....

Nikki Giovanni, Legendary Black Arts Movement Poet, dies at 81

Nikki Giovanni, the award-winning US poet who emerged as one of the leading voices of the 1960s Black Arts movement,....

Webb Telescope reveals the universe is expanding faster than expected

Scientists are grappling with a puzzling discovery: the universe is expanding much faster than expected, a mystery that has deepened....

Man charged with murder in death of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson

Authorities have charged 26-year-old Luigi Mangione with the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, bringing an intense five-day manhunt to....

Freezing rain and heavy snow warnings grip parts of Canada till Monday

Parts of Canada are grappling with a powerful winter storm that started on Sunday and is expected to last through....