A Surrey, B.C., man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for manslaughter on Wednesday after a triple stabbing that left a female family member dead and a two-year-old child and another man seriously injured at a Newton townhouse complex.
Harpreet Singh was sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster to 10 years on one count of manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault in the 2020 death. He has also been handed a 10-year firearms ban.
With credit for time served, Singh will spend four years in prison.
The woman who died was identified as Baljit Kaur. The toddler and another adult, Jagjit Singh, were seriously injured but survived.
The three victims were stabbed inside one of the townhouse units just before 9 p.m. PT after a verbal argument escalated into a physical fight, according to police.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said at the time, the suspect and victims were immediate family members who all lived together in the Newton home.
An RCMP spokesperson said that Singh ran from the scene of the stabbings but was quickly arrested nearby.
“This began as a verbal altercation involving family members that ultimately ended with the tragic loss of a life,” IHIT Sgt. Frank Jang wrote in a statement in October 2020.
“Incidents such as these, when children are involved, are especially emotionally difficult, and we will continue to provide support to those affected by this tragedy.”
For anyone affected by family or intimate partner violence, there is support available through crisis lines and local support services. If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.