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 2005 BCSC 350internet R. v. Malik and Bagri 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, E.D. Crossin, Q.C. Ripudaman Singh Malik: W.B. Smart, Q.C. S.M. Coristine R.J. Fernyhough J.J. Rai B. Martland Counsel for the Defendant, R.C.C. Peck, Q.C. Ajaib Singh Bagri: 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 http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/Jdb-txt/SC/05/03/2005BCSC0350.htm (2 of 167)17/03/2005 11:36:44 2005 BCSC 350internet R. v. Malik and Bagri I. 13 OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................ II. THE 14 CHARGES................................................................................................................. III. THE 18 FACTS....................................................................................................................... A. Telephone Calls to Canadian Pacific 18 Airlines............................................................. B. The Purchase of the L. Singh and M. Singh 20 Tickets................................................... C. Telephone Call Checking on the 21 Flight....................................................................... D. Baggage Check- 22 in...................................................................................................... E. Movement of 24 Baggage................................................................................................ F. The Kanishka 27 Aircraft.................................................................................................. G. Loading of the 28 Kanishka............................................................................................. H. Arrival of the Kanishka into Shannon 29 Airspace........................................................... I. The Rescue and Recovery 30 Operation........................................................................ J. CP Air Flight 34 003. ....................................................................................................... IV. THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE CONCERNING AIR INDIA FLIGHT 35 182............................ A. 35 Background................................................................................................................. B. Qualifications of the 37 Experts...................................................................................... C. Overview of the Experts’ 39 Opinions............................................................................. D. The Evidence of Professor 40 Peel................................................................................ 1. Basic 40 Principles.................................................................................................. 2. Location of the 45 Bomb.......................................................................................... a. Hole in the Aft 46 Fuselage............................................................................... b. The Longitudinal 49 Crack................................................................................ c. Area of Damage on the Left Aft Fuselage (Targets 656, 1011 and 55 26)....... i. Target 55 656.......................................................................................... http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/Jdb-txt/SC/05/03/2005BCSC0350.htm (3 of 167)17/03/2005 11:36:44 2005 BCSC 350internet R. v. Malik and Bagri ii. Target 58 1011........................................................................................ iii. Target 26 – Radiating 65 Cracks............................................................ d. Matching Bulge Apexes in the Left and Right Aft 69 Fuselage................................................................................................. i. Left Aft 69 Fuselage................................................................................. ii. Right Aft 75 Fuselage.............................................................................. e. Target 81 653.................................................................................................... f. Why the Explosive Device Could Not Have Been in Baggage Area 86 51 Left E. The Evidence of Dr. 87 Trimble...................................................................................... 1. Targets 24 and 90 30............................................................................................... 2. Target 47 94 ..................................................................................................... 3. Front 94 Fuselage.................................................................................................... 4. Keel Beam Splice 96 Joints..................................................................................... 5. Evidence Inconsistent with an Explosion in Baggage Area 98 51.......................... F. The 99 Reconstruction.................................................................................................... 100 G. Wreckage Trail Analysis........................................................................................... 104 H. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 109 V. BACKGROUND EVIDENCE.......................................................................................... 109 A. The Golden Temple Attack and Khalistan Movement.............................................. 111 B. The Formation of the Babbar Khalsa Sikh Society of Canada................................ 112 C. Talwinder Singh Parmar........................................................................................... 112 D. Inderjit Singh Reyat................................................................................................... 114 1. Mr. Reyat’s Quest for Explosives and the June 4 Test Blast........................... 116 2. Mr. Reyat’s Evidence Regarding Mr. X and the June 4 Test Blast................... 117 3. Mr. Reyat’s Procurement of Bomb Components............................................. 119 4. The Scientific Evidence Concerning the Narita Explosion................................ http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca/Jdb-txt/SC/05/03/2005BCSC0350.htm (4 of 167)17/03/2005 11:36:44 2005 BCSC 350internet R. v. Malik and Bagri 120 5. Mr. Reyat’s Actions on June 21 and June 22, 1985.......................................... 120 6. Conclusions Regarding Mr. Reyat.................................................................... 122 VI. EVIDENCE AGAINST MR. MALIK................................................................................ 122 A. Overview ................................................................................................... 122 B. Background Information........................................................................................... 122 C. The Evidence of Jagdev Singh Dhillon..................................................................... 123 D. The Evidence of Mr. A.............................................................................................. 128 E. Defence Evidence Regarding Mr. A’s Allegations.................................................... 128 1. Renovations to the Ross Street Temple........................................................... 129 2. The Location of Mr. Malik’s Stall........................................................................ 129 F. The Evidence of Mr. B.............................................................................................. 138 G. The Evidence of Ms. D............................................................................................. 138 1. Overview ... ………..………………………………………………………… 138 2. Personal Background........................................................................................ 140 3. Contact with Others at the Khalsa School........................................................ 141 4. Relationship with Mr. Malik................................................................................ 143 5. Mr. Malik’s Admissions.....................................................................................