Murdered Indo-Canadian Woman’s Mother And Uncle Appeal Extradition To India

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“The extradition judge erred in law by admitting into the proceedings certain hearsay evidence and failing to admit other hearsay evidence,” Sidhu’s lawyer, David Crossin, said in court documents.

VANCOUVER  – The mother and uncle of a young Maple Ridge Indo-Canadian woman murdered in a so-called honour killing are appealing their extradition to face charges in her death.

BC Supreme Court judge ordered the surrender of Malkit Sidhu and Surjit Badesha to police in India last month, after finding there was enough evidence for the brother and sister to face trial, reported Canadian Press.

Both 65-year-old Sidhu and 69-year-old Badesha filed leave to appeal with the B.C. Appeal Court this week. They are appealing on several grounds, including that the judge erred in finding there was sufficient evidence to commit them to trial.

“The extradition judge erred in law by admitting into the proceedings certain hearsay evidence and failing to admit other hearsay evidence,” Sidhu’s lawyer, David Crossin, said in court documents.

Both also said the judge was wrong to find that they are, in fact, the people sought in the case.

Jaswinder (Jassi) Sidhu was kidnapped by a group of men on June 8, 2000, in Punjab province. The 25-year-old was found dead the next day in a canal, her throat had been slit.

During months of testimony at the extradition hearing in Vancouver, the judge heard from friends and neighbours that Jassi Sidhu had secretly married a poor rickshaw driver she met during a family trip to India.

Thirteen people were originally charged by Indian police, including Sidhu and Badesha.

In October, 2005, seven men were convicted of a variety of offences that included kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.

Badesha and Sidhu were arrested on Jan. 6, 2012 – almost 12 years after Jassi Sidhu’s body was pulled out of the canal.

They both remain in custody pending appeal.