Victim impact statements read as judge considers parole eligibility for Guelph, Ont. man who killed his father

It was an emotional day in court for the sentencing of a man who killed his father. CTV’s Colton Wiens reports.

Jaspal Singh Sidhu returned to a Wellington County courthouse to learn how long he must wait before he’s eligible for parole.

Sidhu was found guilty of second-degree murder after he stabbed his father Balbir to death in their Guelph home on Hands Drive in February 2023.

On Wednesday, Justice Cynthia Petersen heard victim impact statements from Jaspal’s two sisters, along with submissions from both the Crown and defence.

Sidhu has a mandatory life sentence and is not eligible for parole for a minimum of ten years.

The Crown told court many people with life sentences don’t ultimately serve all of it in prison, but Sidhu will have to adhere to conditions for the rest of his life.

The Crown wants Sidhu to serve 12 to 14 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.

The defence is asking for 12 years.

Victim impact statements

The first statement came from Jaspal’s sister Amandeep Sidhu. Her words were broken by sobs.

Amandeep explained how the killing of her father broke her heart and the family.

Amandeep said despite her father being a well-respected man, he was abusive and ran a toxic and hostile environment at home.

She said, “We walked on eggshells at home.”

She added her father was the worst version of himself before he died.

But despite their strained relationship, Amandeep said the murder means she will never have the chance to reconcile with him

 “All those hopes and dreams were lost when I lost dad,” she said.

Amandeep shared she is very concerned for her brother and wants Jaspal to seek mental health support in prison.

 “My mom and I look forward to the day he can come home,” she added.

Jaspal’s oldest sister Kamaljit Dhillon then read her statement.

“It’s left a hole in my chest, a constant coldness that seeps into my life,” Dhillon said.

Dhillon described Balbir as a hard-working family man who loved his grandchildren.

“He’s been robbed of his future, and I’ve been robbed of mine,” she said.

As for her brother, Dhillon said, “He is no longer the person I knew.”

“He is a stranger,” she added. “It is a double loss”

Dhillon also said her brother must be suffering in his own way and hoped he would receive mental health support.

She also read a letter her kids wrote for Balbir

The letter read, “I will miss you forever.”

During Crown Attorney Peter Keen’s submission, he explained the rift in the family the murder caused and noted the different experiences the two sisters had with their father.

He said Dhillon moved out before Balbir’s abuse worsened, and her experiences were hard to compare with Amandeep’s.

Keen said there were examples of Jaspal struggling with alcohol and drug abuse along with his mental health. But he said Jaspal was logical and responsive the day he killed his father.

The Crown recommended Jaspal receive drug addiction and mental health support.

Defence attorney David Doney agreed with most of the Crown’s suggestions, but added Jaspal viewed the murder as self-defence.

Doney said Jaspal is prepared to enter treatment and suggested he go to a prison with treatment services.

Justice Petersen told the court she can not decide where Jaspal serves his time but can make a recommendation.

Jaspal was then given a chance to speak. He said the statements from his sisters and the submissions from the lawyers summed up what happened.

Sidhu has been in custody for 792 days and never made a bail application. The defence said it was difficult to meet up with him and they sometimes didn’t even know where he was. They said the prison system is overcrowded and understaffed, to which the judge agreed.

Nine members of the jury recommended 10 years of parole ineligibility, three didn’t make a recommendation.

The judge’s decision

Justice Cynthia Petersen handed down a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 12 years from the day of his arrest.

A second-degree murder conviction carries an automatic 10-year parole ineligibility and a maximum of 25 years.

Justice Petersen said Jaspal was the aggressor when he killed his dad and was not acting in self defense. She said there were two aggravating factors, the gratuitous excessive violence Jaspal showed and the trust he breached by murdering a family member.

The judge acknowledged Balbir abused Jaspal, but said the murder exacerbates the impact on the family. Justice Petersen added Jaspal is a habitual offender with a lengthy criminal record, but this was his first violent offence.

Justice Petersen also noted there was no evidence of thought disorders or psychosis at the time of the killing, but agreed Jaspal’s mental health is likely getting worse.

Sidhu will now move to a federal penitentiary.

Jaspal has been receiving psychiatric care while in custody. He will be eligible to apply for parole after 12 years, is subject to a weapons ban for life and will have his DNA taken.