Nathaniel Veltman, the Canadian man who killed four members of a Muslim family, has been found guilty on four charges of first degree and one count of attempted murder, in a case that tested how the country’s terror laws might prosecute far-right extremism.
The verdict came after the jury deliberated for less than 24 hours. He faces a life imprisonment sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. Justice Renee Pomerance will determine whether Veltman’s actions meet the threshold for terrorism when she issues her sentencing.
Veltman, 22, was charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after driving his truck into five members of the Afzaal family while they were out for a walk in London, Ontario, on the evening of 6 June 2021.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal, were all killed in the attack. The couple’s nine-year-old son was also seriously injured but survived.
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Moments after the verdict was announced, the National Council of Canadian Muslims posted on social media that “justice had been served” and called on the country to reflect on the spike in Islamophobic hate crimes.
Veltman initially told police that he killed the four members of the Afzaal family, but he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the nine-week trial, prosecutors said Veltman told detectives that he left his home on the day of the attack looking for Muslims to kill, saying that he was inspired by the 2019 Christchurch shootings in which a white nationalist killed 51 people.
He had written his own manifesto called A White Awakening and identified himself as a white nationalist. Police found two versions of a document on his computer when they searched his home.
The defence argued Veltman was not guilty of first-degree murder and did not commit an act of terrorism. They cited a lack of criminal intent to kill the victims and no deliberate plan for the attack. Veltman also told the court his state of mind at the time prevented him from understanding the effects and consequences of his actions.
The court will return on December 1 to determine when Veltman will be sentenced. (UK Guardian)
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