Memorial display at Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road in 2021/ Amy Simon XFM
London Mayor Josh Morgan and the London Police Service have issued statements following the decision in the trial of Nathaniel Veltman.
On Thursday afternoon, the jury in Windsor found Veltman guilty on four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Shortly after the decision was announced, London Mayor Josh Morgan issued a statement on Twitter/X, in which he states that while the verdict is an important step in closure for the Muslim community in London, the journey is far from over.
“Each of us has an obligation, as individuals and as a society, to combat and confront hatred in all its forms. This verdict does not absolve us of that responsibility,” Morgan writes.
Morgan also emphasized the importance of curbing Islamophobia, racism, and any sort of hate wherever it may appear, saying “It is my sincerest hope that Londoners, and all Canadians, will continue to support and care for each other as we did in the days, weeks, and months after June 6th, 2021, and throughout the duration of this trial”.
LPS Board Chair Ali Chahbar and LPS Chief Thai Truong issued their own joint statement, outlining many of the same points as Mayor Morgan about the importance of Londoners’ solidarity with the Muslim community, as well as pledging to support the survivor of the Afzaal family.
“Our thoughts today are especially with the Afzaal family’s young survivor, facing a future without his parents, sister, and grandmother. We are committed to supporting him, as we are all those affected, in every way we can”.
A sentencing hearing will be held at a later date to decide whether or not the attacks against the Afzaal family were a terrorist act. Regardless, under the Criminal Code of Canada, Veltman’s conviction of first-degree murder comes with an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 25 years.
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