The trial of the 22-year-old man accused of running over five members of a Muslim family, resulting in the deaths of four of them, began at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Windsor. The accused, Nathaniel Veltman, pleaded not guilty to all charges, including counts of terrorism. The crown prosecutors must prove that Veltman’s actions were planned, deliberate, and motivated by a political, religious, or ideological cause, such as anti-Muslim sentiments.
In 2022, the trial was moved from London to Windsor, although the specific reasons for the move remain undisclosed due to a publication ban. Legal speculation suggests that arguments may have been presented to the court regarding concerns of an unfair trial if held in the city where the family was killed.
Veltman was accused of deliberately driving into Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha Salman, their daughter Yumnah, their son Fayez, and their grandmother Talat Afzaal. The family members, who emigrated from Pakistan to Canada in 2007, all died except for Fayez, who suffered serious injuries and is now living with extended family members.
The Crown alleges that Veltman, who worked part-time at an egg-packing plant, was motivated by extremist views. He is facing charges of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder under anti-terrorism laws. Police claim that Veltman had “hate-related” material on his electronic devices. The trial is expected to present evidence that Veltman finished his work shift, drove to London, and intentionally struck the victims with his truck while they were on an evening walk.
Veltman was arrested in a parking lot seven kilometers away from the scene of the crime, and the London police chief stated that the act was believed to be intentional and targeted the victims due to their Islamic faith. The court documents related to the case were initially sealed but were released in March 2022 after media outlets challenged the publication ban.
The documents reveal witness accounts, information from Veltman’s family, and a transcript of a statement he gave to the police. However, much of the content is subject to the publication ban and may be inadmissible. It is known that the police obtained a search warrant for Veltman’s residence, looking for weapons such as knives, an airsoft gun, and an axe.