2005 BCSC 350internet R. v. Malik and Bagri

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Citation:	R. v. Malik and Bagri,
	2005 BCSC 350

Date: 20050316
Docket: CC010287
Registry: Vancouver

Between:

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

AGAINST

RIPUDAMAN SINGH MALIK and AJAIB SINGH BAGRI

Before: The Honourable Mr. Justice Josephson

Reasons for Judgment

Text Box: There is a Publication Ban pursuant to s. 486(4.1) of the Criminal Code directing that the identities of certain witnesses and any information that could
disclose the identities of those witnesses not be published in any document or broadcast in any way.

Consistent with this Publication Ban, those witnesses are referred to in these Reasons with random letter designations and certain information tending to disclose their identities is omitted.

Counsel for the Crown:	R.H. Wright, Q.C. L.T. Doust, Q.C. R.W. Cairns, Q.C. J. Bellows, Q.C. P.K. Cheema, Q.C. G. Matei B. Toy D.M. Wiedemann G.R. Gaul A.M. Loyst M.A. Mereigh M.T. Ainslie W.B. Milman K. Andani M.M.M. Dufresne J.N. Walker C.E. Richardson M.C. Canofari C. Wong K.S. Wikberg
Counsel for the Defendant, Ripudaman Singh Malik:	E.D. Crossin, Q.C. W.B. Smart, Q.C. S.M. Coristine R.J. Fernyhough J.J. Rai B. Martland
Counsel for the Defendant, Ajaib Singh Bagri:	R.C.C. Peck, Q.C. M. Code M. Tammen N. Harris K. Hamilton P. Barclay A. Kang J. Dawe V.E. Shillington M. Mann A.G. Lee
Counsel for the Court:	M.R. Shapray C.S. Judd
Place of Trial:	Vancouver, B.C.
Dates of Trial:

YEAR/MONTH	DAY(S)
2003
April	28, 29 30
May	5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28
June	20, 25
September	3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 24,
October	1, 6, 10, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 31
November	3, 4, 5 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27
December	5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
2004
January	5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
February	4, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 27
March	1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31
April	1, 2, 5, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
May	3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 31
June	2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30
July	5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22
August	11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 30
September	7, 8, 20
October	1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
November	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30
December	1, 2, 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................	13

II. THE CHARGES.................................................................................................................	14

III. THE FACTS.......................................................................................................................	18
A. Telephone Calls to Canadian Pacific Airlines.............................................................	18
B. The Purchase of the L. Singh and M. Singh Tickets...................................................	20
C. Telephone Call Checking on the Flight.......................................................................	21
D. Baggage Check-in......................................................................................................	22
E. Movement of Baggage................................................................................................	24
F. The Kanishka Aircraft..................................................................................................	27
G. Loading of the Kanishka.............................................................................................	28
H. Arrival of the Kanishka into Shannon Airspace...........................................................	29
I. The Rescue and Recovery Operation........................................................................	30
J. CP Air Flight 003. .......................................................................................................	34

IV. THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE CONCERNING AIR INDIA FLIGHT 182............................	35
A. Background.................................................................................................................	35
B. Qualifications of the Experts......................................................................................	37
C. Overview of the Experts’ Opinions.............................................................................	39
D. The Evidence of Professor Peel................................................................................	40
1. Basic Principles..................................................................................................	40
2. Location of the Bomb..........................................................................................	45
a. Hole in the Aft Fuselage...............................................................................	46
b. The Longitudinal Crack................................................................................	49
c. Area of Damage on the Left Aft Fuselage (Targets 656, 1011 and 26).......	55
i. Target 656..........................................................................................	55
ii. Target 1011........................................................................................	58
iii. Target 26 – Radiating Cracks............................................................	65
d. Matching Bulge Apexes in the Left and Right
Aft Fuselage.................................................................................................	69
i. Left Aft Fuselage.................................................................................	69
ii. Right Aft Fuselage..............................................................................	75
e. Target 653....................................................................................................	81
f. Why the Explosive Device Could Not Have Been in Baggage Area 51 Left	86
E. The Evidence of Dr. Trimble......................................................................................	87
1. Targets 24 and 30...............................................................................................	90
2. Target 47 .....................................................................................................	94
3. Front Fuselage....................................................................................................	94
4. Keel Beam Splice Joints.....................................................................................	96
5. Evidence Inconsistent with an Explosion in Baggage Area 51..........................	98
F. The Reconstruction....................................................................................................	99
G. Wreckage Trail Analysis...........................................................................................	100
H. Conclusion ...................................................................................................	104

V. BACKGROUND EVIDENCE..........................................................................................	109
A. The Golden Temple Attack and Khalistan Movement..............................................	109
B. The Formation of the Babbar Khalsa Sikh Society of Canada................................	111
C. Talwinder Singh Parmar...........................................................................................	112
D. Inderjit Singh Reyat...................................................................................................	112
1. Mr. Reyat’s Quest for Explosives and the June 4 Test Blast...........................	114
2. Mr. Reyat’s Evidence Regarding Mr. X and the June 4 Test Blast...................	116
3. Mr. Reyat’s Procurement of Bomb Components.............................................	117
4. The Scientific Evidence Concerning the Narita Explosion................................	119
5. Mr. Reyat’s Actions on June 21 and June 22, 1985..........................................	120
6. Conclusions Regarding Mr. Reyat....................................................................	120

VI. EVIDENCE AGAINST MR. MALIK................................................................................	122
A. Overview ...................................................................................................	122
B. Background Information...........................................................................................	122
C. The Evidence of Jagdev Singh Dhillon.....................................................................	122
D. The Evidence of Mr. A..............................................................................................	123
E. Defence Evidence Regarding Mr. A’s Allegations....................................................	128
1. Renovations to the Ross Street Temple...........................................................	128
2. The Location of Mr. Malik’s Stall........................................................................	129
F. The Evidence of Mr. B..............................................................................................	129
G. The Evidence of Ms. D.............................................................................................	138
1. Overview ... ………..…………………………………………………………	138
2. Personal Background........................................................................................	138
3. Contact with Others at the Khalsa School........................................................	140
4. Relationship with Mr. Malik................................................................................	141
5. Mr. Malik’s Admissions......................................................................................	143
a. The Newspaper Confession......................................................................	143
b. The Cudail Discussion...............................................................................	150
c. The Anashka Conversation........................................................................	152
d. The Mr. B Discussion.................................................................................	153
e. The Calgary Meeting..................................................................................	153
f. The Seattle Meeting....................................................................................	153
6. Evidence Regarding 1996 and 1997.................................................................	154
7. Human Rights Complaints................................................................................	157
8. Ms. D’s Civil Action............................................................................................	158
9. Contact with CSIS.............................................................................................	158
10. Dealings with the RCMP...................................................................................	161
11. Delay in Reporting the Newspaper Confession................................................	162
12. The Journal ...................................................................................................	162
13. Interaction with Mr. B.........................................................................................	166
14. Threats and Life in the Witness Protection Program.......................................	167
15. The Cross-examination of Ms. D......................................................................	168
a. Emotional Attachment to the Khalsa Pre-school.......................................	168
b. Relationship with Mr. Malik.........................................................................	169
c. The Newspaper Confession......................................................................	171
d. The Cudail Discussion...............................................................................	173
e. Reading Books about the Air India Explosion............................................	174
f. The Seattle Trip..........................................................................................	174
g. The Anashka Conversation........................................................................	175
h. Dealings with CSIS....................................................................................	175
i. Dealings with the RCMP............................................................................	177
H. The Evidence of CSIS Agent Nicholas Rowe..........................................................	178
1. Direct Examination............................................................................................	178
2. Cross-examination............................................................................................	183
a. The First Telephone Call and the Meeting at Starbucks............................	183
b. The Hotel Meetings.....................................................................................	185
c. Ms. D’s Motivations and Involvement of the RCMP...................................	187
d. Ms. D’s First Contact with the RCMP........................................................	190
I. RCMP Evidence Regarding Ms. D...........................................................................	191
1. Initial Dealings with Ms. D.................................................................................	191
2. Information Provided by Ms. D – November, 1997 to April, 1998.....................	194
J. Telephone Calls Between Mr. Malik and Ms. D........................................................	201
K. The Evidence of Narinder Singh Gill.........................................................................	201
L. The Evidence of Joginder Singh Gill.........................................................................	208
M. The Evidence of Mr. Malik’s Financial Support of the Reyat Family........................	210
N. Evidence of Association...........................................................................................	210
O. The Evidence of Mohinder Cudail.............................................................................	211
P. The Evidence of Inderjit Singh Arora........................................................................	212
Q. Mindy Bhandher’s Whereabouts in Spring, 1997.....................................................	213
R. The Evidence of Daljit Singh Sandhu.......................................................................	215
S. The Evidence of Satwant Singh Sandhu..................................................................	218
T. Defence Evidence Regarding the Seattle Meeting...................................................	221

VII. SUBMISSIONS OF THE PARTIES REGARDING MR. MALIK..................................	222
A. Motive ...................................................................................................	222
1. Position of Mr. Malik...........................................................................................	222
2. Position of the Crown........................................................................................	223
B. Evidence of Association...........................................................................................	224
1. Position of Mr. Malik...........................................................................................	224
2. Position of the Crown........................................................................................	228
C. Attempts to Recruit Individuals to Deliver Bombs....................................................	230
1. Position of Mr. Malik...........................................................................................	230
a. Jagdev Singh Dhillon..................................................................................	230
b. Mr. A ...................................................................................................	231
c. Mr. B ...................................................................................................	233
2. Position of the Crown........................................................................................	238
a. Jagdev Singh Dhillon..................................................................................	238
b. Mr. A ...................................................................................................	239
c. Mr. B ...................................................................................................	239
D. Ms. D and Related Witnesses.................................................................................	241
1. Position of Mr. Malik...........................................................................................	241
a. Overview ...................................................................................................	241
b. Relationship with Mr. Malik.........................................................................	242
c. Ms. D’s State of Mind in 1996.....................................................................	243
d. Ms. D’s State of Mind in 1997.....................................................................	245
e. Ms. D’s Actions Belie Her Words...............................................................	246
f. Destruction of Journal and File Materials...................................................	247
g. The Newspaper Confession......................................................................	248
i. Information in the Public Domain.....................................................	251
ii. The Bhandher Speeding Ticket........................................................	256
iii. Response to Crown’s Submission on Delay in Reporting Newspaper Confession....................................................................	256
iv. Ms. D’s Journal.................................................................................	257
h. The Cudail Discussion...............................................................................	259
i. The Anashka Conversation........................................................................	262
j. The Mr. B Discussion.................................................................................	263
k. The Calgary Meeting..................................................................................	264
l. The Seattle Meeting....................................................................................	264
m. General Issues Regarding Credibility.........................................................	266
n. The Evidence of Mr. Arora..........................................................................	266
o. The Evidence of Nick Rowe.......................................................................	267
p. Daljit Singh Sandhu....................................................................................	270
q. Satwant Singh Sandhu...............................................................................	272
2. Position of the Crown........................................................................................	274
a. Overview ...................................................................................................	274
b. Demeanour on the Witness Stand............................................................	275
c. The Nature of the Relationship...................................................................	276
d. Telephone Contact Between Mr. Malik and Ms. D.....................................	277
e. The Newspaper Confession......................................................................	278
i. Ms. D’s Journal.................................................................................	281
ii. Independent Confirmatory Evidence of the Newspaper Confession.......................................................................................	282
iii. Information in the Public Domain.....................................................	283
iv. Delay in Reporting the Newspaper Confession...............................	284
f. The Cudail Discussion...............................................................................	284
g. The Anashka Conversation........................................................................	286
h. The Mr. B Discussion.................................................................................	287
i. The Calgary Meeting..................................................................................	288
j. The Seattle Meeting....................................................................................	288
k. The Evidence of Nick Rowe.......................................................................	290
l. Ms. D’s Dealings with the RCMP...............................................................	291
m. Daljit Singh Sandhu....................................................................................	292
n. Satwant Singh Sandhu...............................................................................	293
E. Post Offence Conduct..............................................................................................	294
1. Position of Mr. Malik...........................................................................................	294
a. Financial Support of the Reyat Family.......................................................	294
b. The Evidence of Joginder Singh Gill..........................................................	296
2. Position of the Crown........................................................................................	297
a. Financial Support of the Reyat Family.......................................................	297
b. The Evidence of Joginder Singh Gill..........................................................	299

VIII.APPLICABLE LEGAL PRINCIPLES...................................................................................	300
A. Standard of Proof ...................................................................................................	300
B. Motive.......... ...................................................................................................	303
c. *Vetrovec* Cautions	304

IX. CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE CASE AGAINST MR. MALIK............................	307
A. Cross-examination of Crown Witnesses.................................................................	307
B. Motive........................................................................................................................	309
C. Evidence of Association...........................................................................................	309
D. The Attempts to Recruit Individuals to Deliver Bombs.............................................	310
1. Jagdev Singh Dhillon.........................................................................................	310
2. Mr. A..................................................................................................................	311
3. Mr. B..................................................................................................................	313
E. Ms. D........................................................................................................................	318
1. Manner and Demeanour...................................................................................	318
2. The Relationship Between Ms. D and Mr. Malik................................................	318
3. The Newspaper Confession.............................................................................	326
a. Details of the Newspaper Confession in the Public Domain.....................	329
b. The Evidence of Mr. Arora..........................................................................	331
c. The Bhandher Speeding Ticket..................................................................	332
d. The Journal.................................................................................................	332
e. The Involvement of Daljit Singh Sandhu....................................................	335
f. The Involvement of Satwant Singh Sandhu...............................................	335
g. Summary of Conclusions Regarding the Newspaper Confession............	336
4. The Cudail Discussion......................................................................................	337
5. The Anashka Conversation...............................................................................	340
6. The Mr. B Discussion........................................................................................	342
7. The Calgary Meeting.........................................................................................	343
8. The Seattle Trip.................................................................................................	343
9. Final Conclusion Regarding Ms. D’s Credibility...................................................	344
F. Post-Offence Conduct.............................................................................................	345
1. Financial Support of the Reyat Family..............................................................	345
2. The Evidence of Joginder Singh Gill.................................................................	346
G. Final Conclusions ...................................................................................................	347

X. THE EVIDENCE AGAINST MR. BAGRI.......................................................................	348
A. Motive........................................................................................................................	349
1. Mr. Bagri’s Speeches........................................................................................	349
a. Madison Square Gardens Speech.............................................................	349
b. Panthak Conference Speech.....................................................................	350
2. Statements to the Police...................................................................................	351
a. Wilf Bells ...................................................................................................	351
b. Detective Sergeant Keith Weston..............................................................	352
3. Other Evidence of Motive..................................................................................	354
B. Evidence of Inculpatory Statements.........................................................................	354
1. Mr. C and Related Witnesses...........................................................................	354
a. Overview....................................................................................................	354
b. Mr. C’s Background....................................................................................	356
i. General.............................................................................................	356
ii. Criminal History................................................................................	356
iii. The Deshmesh Regiment and the New Orleans Incident...............	358
iv. The Air India/Narita Explosions.........................................................	362
v. Becoming an FBI Informant..............................................................	364
vi. Assistance from the FBI...................................................................	366
Financial Assistance.................................................................	366
Immigration Assistance.............................................................	366
vii. Additional Immigration Matters.........................................................	369
c. Mr. Bagri’s Alleged Statements to Mr. C....................................................	370
i. Post-MSG Conference Statement...................................................	370
ii. Gas Station Conversation................................................................	372
iii. Stockton Conference Conversation.................................................	376
iv. Richmond Hill Temple Conversations..............................................	378
“The Walls Have Ears”..............................................................	378
Reyat Extradition Conversation.................................................	379
v. The Lachine Temple Speech...........................................................	383
d. Mr. C’s Relationship with the RCMP..........................................................	383
e. Further Evidence of Mr. C..........................................................................	391
i. Relationship with Mr. Bagri...............................................................	391
ii. Conversations with Kamal Jit...........................................................	391
f. The Evidence of Mr. Parrish.......................................................................	392
i. The New Orleans Incident................................................................	392
ii. Notes and Telexes; FBI Procedures................................................	393
iii. September 25, 1985 Debriefing.......................................................	394
iv. Telexes regarding Mr. C...................................................................	398