The case of the two men charged with killing a Surrey man acquitted in the Air India terrorist attack has been adjourned for two weeks.
Lawyers for 21-year-old Tanner Fox and 23-year-old Jose Lopez need more time to analyze evidence disclosures. During brief, separate hearings on Friday, Surrey Provincial Court Judge Kimberley Arthur-Leung scheduled their next appearance for Oct. 7. Both men remain in custody.
On July 14, 75-year-old Ripudaman Malik was gunned down near his Newton office at 8236 128 Street and died at the scene. Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said those responsible fled in a white Honda CR-V that was later found on fire at 122 Street and 82 Avenue.
IHIT announced first degree murder charges July 27 against Fox and Lopez. The two men were arrested without incident at their residences. Police in Abbotsford and New Westminster were part of the investigation.
Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri were acquitted in 2005 by a B.C. Supreme Court judge of charges that they masterminded the June 23, 1985 terrorist bombing of Air India flight 182 off Ireland. Despite the Crown’s failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, families of the 329 victims held Malik and Bagri responsible for the worst terrorist incident of its type before 9/11.
Malik came to Canada in 1972 and was behind the Khalsa Credit Union and Khalsa schools. He supported the Sikh separatist movement and was banned from returning to India until 2019.
Early this year, Malik sparked criticism within the Indo-Canadian community for his letter praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
