NEW WESTMINSTER — The Crown is seeking a six- to eight-year prison sentence for former Radio India boss Maninder Gill, who shot and injured a man outside a Sikh temple in Surrey nearly six years ago.
Gill, 53, was convicted in March of discharging a firearm with intent to wound or disfigure, aggravated assault, intentionally discharging a firearm while reckless, pointing a firearm and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
A sentencing hearing was held on Monday in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.
The incident that led to the charges took place on Aug. 28, 2010, outside the Guru Nanak Sikh temple following a wedding. It was part of an ongoing dispute between Gill and Jaspal Atwal, Vikram Atwal and Harjit Atwal regarding comments made on Radio India, where Gill was managing director at the time.
Gill testified at trial that he was acting in self-defence following an altercation with Jaspal Atwal and Vikram Atwal outside the shoe tent.
He alleged that they stabbed and punched him, and that the gun belonged to Vikram Atwal. He said he shot Harjit Atwal in the hip after he ran at him in the parking lot.
However, Justice Kenneth Ball found in his March decision that there was no altercation outside the shoe tent. Ball found that Gill brought the revolver with him to the temple and retrieved it from his car to confront the Atwals after the wedding.
Crown prosecutor Michael Bloom said the primary sentencing concerns in the case are denunciation and deterrence.
Bloom said it was an aggravating factor that Gill used a firearm during the offence and discharged it in a public place following a wedding. Atwal was unarmed and retreating when he was shot, and he was seriously injured.
In mitigation, Gill is a first-time offender who has complied with his bail conditions for more than five years. Bloom said Gill has been a contributing member of the community. Bloom proposed a total sentence of six to eight years in prison.
The defence, on the other hand, submitted that the circumstances of Gill’s case are unique and warrant no more than the mandatory minimum sentence of four years in prison.
Lawyers Richard Peck and Tony Paisana talked about businesses Gill has run and charitable contributions he has made over the years.
Gill was described in numerous letters from family, friends and people he helped as soft-natured, kind-hearted and helpful. Paisana also outlined additional mitigating factors, such as Gill’s co-operation with police, his low risk to reoffend and the embarrassment he has suffered because of the publicity the case has attracted.
