Hitman sentenced to life in prison for B.C. murder of former Air India bombing suspect

One of the two men hired and paid to kill Ripudaman Singh Malik has been sentenced – but the question of who ordered the hit remains unanswered.

One of the two men who pleaded guilty in the murder-for-hire of former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years.

A judge sentenced Tanner Fox in B.C. Supreme Court Tuesday.

Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence, and the judge accepted a joint submission from Crown and defence in setting parole eligibility.

Malik, 75, was gunned down in his vehicle outside of his Surrey business in July of 2022. In 2005, Malik was acquitted of charges related to the bombings aimed at two Air India planes that killed 331 people in June 1985.

An agreed statement of facts provided by the B.C. Prosecution Service says Fox and his co-accused, Jose Lopez, were “hired and paid” to carry out the murder.

In a victim impact statement, Malik’s daughter Kirat Kaur spoke about her family’s immense loss following the murder.

She said her father’s legacy will live on through the work he did in the community.

“The love I experienced in 35 years as his daughter, I know, is more than most people will experience in lifetime,” Malik said, before ending with surprising words directed at Fox.

“We are peace with what happened to our father, and we hope you can find peace, too.”

Before the judge announced his sentence, Fox stood and addressed the court – and Malik’s family.

“I know nothing I say will bring him back. I’m sorry for the role I played in this crime. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel remorse for my actions,” he said.

Fox and Lopez were charged with first-degree murder, and later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

Neither man has told authorities who hired them to kill Malik, according to the victim’s family.

“I’m asking both Mr. Fox and Mr. Lopez to do the right thing. Tell the RCMP who hired you,” the victim’s son Jaspreet Singh Malik said outside of court. “Let those people be brought to justice. We hope and we pray that the RCMP continue this work.”

Lopez' next court appearance is set for Feb. 6.