MONTREAL: A sentencing hearing in Canada started Thursday of the man convicted of killing four members of a Muslim family with his vehicle over two years ago.
Nathanial Veltman, a 23-year-old self-proclaimed white supremacist, was found guilty of the murder in November, however, he denied the claims.
On June 6, 2021, Veltman ran over the family with his pickup truck in the London city of Ontario, killing both parents, the grandmother, and their 15-year-old daughter. The only survivor, a nine-year-old boy, was severely wounded.
Tabinda Bukhari whose 44-yearold daughter, Madiha Salman, was among those killed said this was not only a crime against Muslims but affront to the safety of all Canadian citizens.
As per reports about 70 people close to the victims will record their statements during the two-day hearing.
Amira Elgahawby, who was appointed as Canada’s special representative on combating Islamophobia last year said the sorrow and the sadness, the fear, the anger, the pain, come again and again.
Under Canadian law, the convict could get a minimum sentence of life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
According to local media, Judge Renee Pomerance of the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario this month will determine whether or not Veltman’s actions were an act of terrorism, before announcing his sentence.
