Canadian gets 10-month jail for punching, kicking Sikh
Monday, 04/07/2016
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
TORONTO: A 22-year-old Canadian has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for punching and kicking a Sikh man in a racially motivated attack.
Gabriel Royer-Tremblay, 22, was convicted of assault for punching and kicking Supninder Singh Khehra on a street in Quebec City in March.
Khehra, 29, an Indian citizen originally from Patiala and a resident of the Toronto suburb of Brampton, had said that Tremblay and two of his friends shouted and swore at him in French and pointed at his turban, before he was punched in the eye and kicked. Khehra said his turban flew off of his head during the assault.
Police arrived at the scene and arrested Tremblay and another man, who was later released without charges. The incident had drawn widespread condemnation in Canada, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said at the time that such “hateful acts” have “no place in Canada”.
Royer-Tremblay was also convicted of several other offences, including obstructing police and methamphetamine possession. His lawyer, Benoit Labrecque, told CTV News Toronto that six months of the sentence was for the assault against Khehra and the other four were tied to the other offences.
Royer-Tremblay was also given two years’ probation on Thursday. The crown had sought a total jail term of 18 months, while Labrecque argued for a 90-day jail stint served on weekends.
Khehra submitted a victim impact statement to the court that said “he no longer feels safe when walking alone on the street and is coping with stress related to the incident”.
