Court hears closing arguments at second-degree murder trial of Jaspal Singh Sidhu

The Crown and defence presented their closing arguments at a murder trial for a man accused of killing his father. CTV’s Colton Wiens has more on what was said.

Jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday at the trial of a Guelph, Ont. man accused of killing his father.

The Crown and defence both presented their versions of what happened on Feb. 28, 2023, when Balbir Singh Sidhu was stabbed eight times in his Hands Drive home. He was also found clutching a knife stuck in his chest.

Throughout the trial, court heard about an altercation between the victim and Jaspal Singh Sidhu.

The Crown suggested Jaspal Singh Sidhu stabbed his father while chasing him around the house. They also pointed out what they said were inconsistencies in his story.

Defence’s closing arguments

The defence argued the blood evidence, shown in court, matched Jaspal Singh Sidhu’s testimony that his father attacked him first.

Defence attorney David Doney insisted his client was always acting in self-defense and, while a tenant testified to hearing a fight, they never saw the altercation. He added that father and son were arguing in Punjabi, so the tenant could not have known what was said between the two.

Doney also pointed to the police body camera footage, which was presented as evidence in court. In it, Jaspal Singh Sidhu could be heard telling Guelph Police officers he was trying to stop his father from attacking him.

The video, Doney added, only showed what happened after Balbir died and “there’s no ability to know precisely what happened” that day.

Doney then address the blood at the crime scene. The photos, he said, appeared to match up with Jaspal Singh Sidhu’s testimony. Doney also stressed that the defendant’s DNA was not found on the knife in Balbir’s chest.

The defense called what happened between the father and son a tragedy, but said Jaspal Singh Sidhu was only “defending himself against the aggression of his father who had these [two] knives.”

Doney argued that, based on this, Jaspal Singh Sidhu should be found not guilty of second-degree murder or any lesser charges like manslaughter or aggravated assault.

Crown’s closing arguments

During the Crown’s closing, attorney Peter Keen argued they had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Jaspal Singh Sidhu was guilty of second-degree murder.

He pointed to the fact Balbir was stabbed a total of eight times.

“It defies belief that all eight of those were inflicted by an accident,” Keen argued, adding two stab wounds in the victim’s back couldn’t have been from a struggle. “It’s pretty hard to stab yourself in the back even if someone is holding your hand.”

The Crown also argued the wounds on Balbir Singh Sidhu’s body were consistent with “clean in and out” stabs, and not the sign of a struggle between the two.

The fifth stab wound, Keen reminded the jury, was a fatal injury.

“He could not have become more aggressive, as described by Jaspal,” he said.

Keen then addressed Jaspal Singh Sidhu’s appearance at the scene. He said the defendant was not hurt and did not have any blood on his own shirt, despite Jaspal’s claims that he was defending himself.

“That simply is not believable,” Keen insisted.

What’s next

On Wednesday, the judge will charge the 12-person jury. That is expected to take most of the morning. After that, jurors will begin deliberations.