The person convicted of murdering a Muslim household in London, Ont., is interesting his life sentence for an act deemed by a decide to be terrorism.
Nathaniel Veltman is interesting his 4 convictions for first-degree homicide and his conviction for tried homicide, for which he was sentenced in February 2024, in response to courtroom paperwork.
His lawyer had already indicated he deliberate to file an enchantment a few months after he was sentenced final yr.
Veltman was sentenced to life in jail with no likelihood of parole for 25 years for hitting the Afzaal household along with his truck in 2021 whereas they have been out for a stroll in London, Ont.
Forty-six-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old spouse, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal have been killed within the assault.
Story continues beneath commercial
The couple’s nine-year-old little one was harm however survived.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
Justice Renee Pomerance, who presided over the trial held in Windsor, Ont., dominated the murders dedicated by a self-described white nationalist have been an act of terrorism.
The case was the primary time Canada’s terrorism legal guidelines have been put earlier than a jury in a first-degree homicide trial.
Prosecutors had argued Veltman was a white supremacist with a plan to commit violence, whereas the defence argued his actions shouldn’t be thought-about terrorism as a result of he stored his beliefs to himself.
Extra on Crime
Extra movies
However Pomerance rejected that argument, discovering that Veltman solely stored his beliefs non-public to keep away from detection earlier than he may perform his plan.
Trending Now
Loblaw removes Folgers espresso from shops over ‘unjustified’ worth hikes
Public security minister asks officers to ‘display screen’ him from battle of curiosity
At a sentencing listening to in January, Veltman apologized for the ache he had prompted however that apology was rejected by the victims’ members of the family exterior of courtroom.
The assault on June 6, 2021 shocked the nation, with a memorial held within the metropolis and attended by leaders from throughout Canada.
On Friday, the four-year anniversary of the assault, Prime Minister Mark Carney remembered the victims.
“We mourn the loss right now of… the Afzaal household, who 4 years in the past today in London have been victims of a heinous act of terrorism,” Carney stated.
Story continues beneath commercial
“Gatherings like right now remind us all of those that are absent. Family and friends who as soon as prayed beside us however who not can. And it’s in these moments that we lean on our religion. A religion that carries us via the powerful occasions. A religion that brings pleasure shining via the darkest clouds”
— with information from The Canadian Press
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
