Nathaniel Veltman, whose actions prompted nationwide appeals to address Islamophobia, has been convicted of four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury deliberated for about five hours before reaching a verdict. The courtroom sketch depicts Justice Renee Pomerance, Nathaniel Veltman, and Crown Prosecutor Kim Johnson as the decision is announced in the Superior Court of Justice in Windsor, Ontario, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. The illustration was created by Alexandra Newbould for THE CANADIAN PRESS.
The sentencing hearing for Nathaniel Veltman, a 23-year-old who was convicted of killing four members of the Afzaal family, is scheduled to span three days. The victims include Talat Afzaal, 74, her son Salman, 46, his wife Madiha, 44, and their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah. The tragic incident occurred on June 6, 2021, at the intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road in London, where the family was struck by a pickup truck. Fortunately, their nine-year-old son survived his injuries.
Following an 11-week trial in the fall of 2023, Veltman, who initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, was convicted on Nov. 16, 2023, by a jury in Windsor, Ont. The charges include four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
The sentencing proceedings will extend over two full days, during which a combination of in-person and virtual entries will be made into the record. On Jan. 23, the Crown is anticipated to argue that Veltman's actions constitute terrorist activity—a point of contention with the defense. On this date, Veltman will have the opportunity to address the judge personally, a decision left to his discretion. However, as of Wednesday, his lawyers have conveyed that Veltman is yet to decide whether he will speak in court.
The judge will determine whether to deliver a sentence on Jan. 23 or reserve the decision for a subsequent court appearance. A conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for 25 years. In Veltman's case, the four first-degree murder convictions and one attempted murder conviction will run concurrently.
If Veltman is found guilty of terrorist activity, it will factor into his parole application around 2046, assuming credit for time served. Since the night of the June 6, 2021, attack, Veltman has remained in custody. The sentencing hearing marks a crucial phase in a tragic case that has deeply affected the Afzaal family and the community at large.
