Two Convicted in British Columbia Province for Their Roles in 2019 Murder

TORONTO: In a case that shook the British Columbia province of Canada, two Canadian youths of Punjabi origin have been sentenced in connection with the tragic murder of 30-year-old Andrew Baldwin, a drug user and trafficker. The incident occurred on November 11, 2019, when Baldwin was fatally stabbed while watching a movie in a basement apartment in Whalley, Surrey.

Jagpal Singh Hothi, charged with first-degree murder, and his friend and accomplice Jasman Singh Basran, who attempted to destroy evidence, have now faced the consequences of their actions.

British Columbia Supreme Court in New Westminster recently delivered their sentences. Hothi was sentenced to three years in prison, with 3.5 months of this term already served during his custody while awaiting trial. In contrast, Basran received a conditional sentence of 18 months, meaning he will serve his sentence at home under certain conditions.

Earlier this year, a third individual, Jordan Bottomley, pleaded guilty to Baldwin's murder. His sentence was reduced from eight to three years and 38 days. Bottomley had stabbed Baldwin six times before succumbing to a fatal gunshot wound to the heart. A fourth person, Munrup Hare, still awaits trial and is charged with first-degree murder in connection with this case.

Notably, Justice Martha M. Devlin's rulings shed light on the intricate dynamics of the crime. She noted that Bottomley, Hothi, and Baldwin were all involved in the local drug trade, working for a fourth, unnamed individual.

On the night of the incident, Hothi had enlisted Basran, who possessed a Ford F150 truck, without revealing the nature of their intended activity. Bottomley, armed with a knife, entered Baldwin's home and launched the attack. After just 90 seconds, a blood-soaked Bottomley returned to the truck, where Basran promptly instructed him to exit.

The Subsequent Actions of Basran and Hothi unveiled their attempts to cover up the crime. They cleaned the blood from the vehicle overnight, and Basran even took the car to a professional detailer the following day, sending pictures of the cleaned vehicle to Hothi.

In the case of Hothi, Judge Devlin remarked that he remained intentionally impassive to the violence unfolding at the scene due to his awareness of the drug trade's brutal nature. Hothi also made efforts to delete evidence. On the other hand, Basran's involvement was described as 'unplanned' within the circumstances of the crime.