Jury Hears Evidence of Canadian Man Intentionally Targeting and Murdering Family in Order to Instill Fear among Muslims

A Canadian man, Nathaniel Veltman, is on trial for allegedly killing a Muslim family in London, Ontario with the intention of making all Muslims feel unsafe. The prosecution has argued that Veltman planned to send a brutal message through this act. He is facing four first-degree murder charges, one count of attempted murder, and terrorism counts, as it is believed that he targeted the family because of their faith. If found guilty, Veltman could be sentenced to life in prison. Both the defense and prosecution agree that Veltman was behind the wheel of the vehicle that ran over the Afzaal family. Veltman has pleaded not guilty, claiming he suffers from mental illness. The attack resulted in the deaths of Salman Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Yumna Afzaal, and Talat Afzaal, while a nine-year-old boy survived but was seriously injured. This case is significant as it is the first time a jury in Canada has heard legal arguments on terrorism related to white supremacy. The jury's task is not only to determine Veltman's guilt for murder but also whether his actions can be classified as terrorism. Prosecutors aim to prove that the victims' murders were intentional and had a political, religious, or ideological purpose to intimidate the public or a specific group. In closing arguments, the prosecution presented evidence indicating that Veltman was motivated by white nationalist ideologies and had consumed highly racist content on the dark web. They also highlighted that Veltman had expressed his hatred for Muslims in a document discovered on his computer. The prosecution further claimed that Veltman had bigger goals for that day beyond committing murder and that the Afzaal family was merely a medium for his brutal message. The defense, on the other hand, argued that Veltman was in a dreamlike state due to consuming a large quantity of magic mushrooms on the day of the attack. They also emphasized Veltman's mental conditions, including depression, anxiety, and a personality disorder, which were exacerbated by drug use. The defense suggested that Veltman should be charged with manslaughter instead of first-degree murder. The jury is currently deliberating the case.