Jury finds Jaspal Singh Sidhu guilty of second-degree murder

Jurors delivered a guilty verdict Wednesday at the second-degree murder trial of Jaspal Singh Sidhu.

The Guelph man stabbed of his father, 68-year-old Balbir Singh Sidhu, eight times during an argument in their Hands Drive home on Feb. 28, 2023.

Throughout the two-and-a-half-week trial, jurors heard two very different versions of what happened that day.

The Crown argued that Balbir Singh Sidhu was stabbed during a heated argument with his son.

Jaspal Singh Sidhu, who took the stand in his own defense, insisted it happened as he was trying to defend himself. He claimed Balbir confronted him and demanded he help shovel snow outside. After a brief altercation, Jaspal Singh Sidhu said his father followed him down to the kitchen, picked up a knife and threatened his son. They began to struggle and Balbir was stabbed.

Jaspal Singh Sidhu claimed his father then picked up a second knife and, as they continued to struggle, he pulled his son down on top of him, forcing the knife into the middle of his chest.

Balbir was later found by first responders clutching the handle of that knife.

The Crown disputed his account, stating their belief that Jaspal attacked and then chased his father around the house before the fatal stabbing.

Justice Cynthia Petersen told jurors they could deliver one of four verdicts: guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, guilty of aggravated assault or not guilty.

“In short,” the judge said, “you need to be sure.”

Deliberations began at 1:31 p.m. and by 5:51 p.m., the jury delivered its decision.

“This was a tough two weeks, two and a half weeks, for the family,” Crown Attorney Peter Keen told CTV News after the verdict. “And I’m sure a tough two and a half weeks for the jury. They had to sit through a lot of evidence, including some very graphic images, video and things like that. I just want to thank the jury for the time, the energy they put into this and the obvious thought they put into the verdict. It’s tough serving on a jury and they, quite frankly, did their country proud.”

Jaspal Singh Sidhu is automatically sentenced to life behind bars, but it will be up to the judge to decide when the 34-year-old is eligible for parole. It could range anywhere from 10 to 25 years.