FORMER president of Surrey’s Brookside Sikh Temple, Baldev Singh Kalsi, was on Tuesday sentenced to 11 years in jail in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.
Kalsi had been charged with attempted murder in a domestic-related attack on his wife, Narinder Kaur Kalsi, in July 2014 and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the case last November.
The lawyers had agreed that he should get an 11-year term.
The sentencing hearing that had earlier been set for February 22 was delayed until March 8. But on March 8, Kalsi suddenly dismissed his lawyer and wanted to consult a new lawyer. The judge gave Kalsi until March 13, noting that Crown was vigorously opposed to an adjournment.
Kalsi will remain in jail for nine years and seven months more with credit for time served.
The Canadian Ramgarhia Society replaced Kalsi back in 2014, stating they were deeply saddened by the tragic incident and that the management of Gurdwara Sahib Brookside categorically condemned all kinds of violence.
Surrey RCMP were called to a residence in July 2014 in the 19400-block of 32 Avenue in Surrey where police located the injured victim with life-threatening injuries. She was airlifted to a hospital by BC Ambulance Service and placed on life support that was later removed.
The judge noted that the attack was brutal.
