CROWN counsel told B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday that Surjit Dosanjh, who was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter last July in the deaths of his son and his mother-in-law, should get 18 years in prison for the “horrible and senseless” crimes for denunciation and deterrence.

On April 13, 2015, at 2:10 a.m., the Richmond RCMP received a call of a fire at a home in the 10100-block of Cornerbrook Crescent. First responders found a 66-year-old and a 13-year-old at the residence and both died as a result of their injuries. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was called in to investigate.

The older victim’s 37-year-old son-in-law, Surjit Dosanjh, was arrested and charged in connection with the two deaths. There is a publication ban on the victims’ names.

In January 2018, Dosanjh’s trial began in B.C. Supreme Court.

During his trial, the court heard that Dosanjh, who was arrested on April 2, 2015, under the Mental Health Act, was angry after breaking up with his wife. He threatened to harm his wife and her new boyfriend.

Police helped Dosanjh’s wife and her two-year-old son move to a safe house just the night before the fire.

The defence lawyer said that it was undisputed that Dosanjh knew that his wife was not home at the time of the fire and he believed that his son was not there. He argued that his client should get a sentence in the range of eight to 10 years, less credit for time he was in pre-sentence custody.

Dosanjh could be later deported as he is not a citizen of Canada.