Murder victim Mandeepak Chahal’s family wants accused to face a ‘fitting punishment’

Mandeepak “Deepak” Chahal Photo submitted
Mandeepak “Deepak” Chahal with his nephew. Photo submitted

 THE family of murder victim Mandeepak “Deepak” Chahal, 22, in an email to The VOICE on Sunday said they want a “fitting punishment” for the accused.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced last week that charges had been laid against Sukhpreet “Jesse” Shergill, 20, of Surrey in the June 19 murder of Chahal, 22. Chahal was not known to police.

Sgt. Adam MacIntosh said Shergill has been charged with one count of manslaughter.

Chahal was reportedly stabbed to death near 65B Avenue and 131st Street in Newton in an altercation near St. Bernadette Elementary School.

At the time, IHIT Sgt. Bari Emam said: “Our investigators can confirm that this was not a gang or drug related incident.”

The family in their email said: “The family and friends are very shaken up by the loss of Deepak to such a senseless crime. As you may already know violence has been a major ongoing issue in Surrey and surrounding areas. The family wants to ensure that the accused faces a fitting punishment which will also help set precedent and as an example that you cannot get away with taking away someone’s life so easily and that violence will not be tolerated in our community.

“The justice system needs to crack down on these people who carry weapons for no reason. We need to ensure that the perpetrator receives a harsh enough punishment rather than a slap on the wrist. Why are such young kids walking around with weapons in the first place?”

Shergill’s next court appearance is on November 26.

Deepak moved to Surrey with his family from Williams Lake (where he grew up) in 2006. He was in his second year of a four-year electrical program at BCIT. He was working as an electrician for Nightingale Electrical company.

Mandeepak “Deepak” Chahal Photo submitted
Mandeepak “Deepak” Chahal
Photo submitted

 

Sukhpreet "Jesse" Shergill
Sukhpreet “Jesse” Shergill