Man accused of killing Muslim family members pleads not guilty as trial opens

The man facing terror-related murder charges in the deaths of four members of a Muslim family in London, Ont., pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, as his trial started in Windsor, Ont.

Nathaniel Veltman is accused of deliberately hitting the Afzaal family members with his truck as they were out for a walk on the evening of June 6, 2021. He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Standing next to the accused as the court registrar read the charges, defence lawyer Christopher Hicks entered not guilty pleas on Veltman’s behalf.

Jury selection has started for the trial, which is expected to take about 12 weeks.

Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance told the jury pool that a total of 14 jurors will be selected, including two alternates in case a juror is unable to fulfil their duties.

Pomerance ruled last year that a change of venue is warranted in the case, moving the trial from London to Windsor.

The reasons for that decision, as well as the evidence and arguments presented in court, cannot be disclosed due to a publication ban.

Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal, were killed in the attack. The couple’s nine-year-old son was also seriously hurt but survived.

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Pomerance said the Crown is alleging that Veltman, who was 20 at the time of his arrest, was motivated by extremist right-wing views associated with white supremacy when he intentionally drove his truck over a curb to strike the Muslim family members.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

The attack on the Afzaal family sent waves of shock, grief and fear across Canada and spurred ongoing calls for measures to combat Islamophobia in the country.

“We will watch this case very closely,” said Aasyah Khan, interim chief operating officer of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), outside the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Windsor on Tuesday.

“We are looking for justice for our London family and for our community to feel protected, to feel safe, and to know our justice system will do what is necessary to deter this from ever happening again. This moment must be a catalyst for change, so that all of us in this country feel safe just doing ordinary things in our community.”

(Left to right) Uthman Quick, director of communications at NCCM; Imam Abd Alfatah Twakkal, chair of the London Council of Imams; and Aasyah Khan, interim chief operating officer at NCCM, speak to reporters outside the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Windsor on Sept. 5, 2023. OMNI/Joseph Fazio

Relatives of the family were not present at the press conference on Tuesday, but Khan and Imam Abd Alfatah Twakkal, chair of the London Council of Imams, spoke to the media ahead of the trial.

“Sept. 6, marks exactly 27 months since the horrific tragedy struck the Muslim community in London, Ont. A senseless act of hatred, violence and terrorism abruptly ended the lives of four precious individuals from one family, representing three generations in a single blow,” said Imam Twakkal.

“Over the next several months as this trial takes place, our hope is that in the end, justice will be served.”

The federal government hosted a summit on Islamophobia in July 2021 to hear Muslim Canadians’ ideas and insights on how Ottawa can stop attacks targeting their community.

After the attack, NCCM released a list of recommendations to fight anti-Muslim hate across Canada, including calling on the federal and provincial governments to commit to anti-Islamophobia strategies in education and provide resources to fight anti-Muslim hate.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed in January journalist and human rights advocate Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s first special representative to combat Islamophobia, to serve as an adviser and expert as the federal government works to fight religious intolerance and systemic racism.

A mural featuring a painting by Yumnah Afzaal is now the centrepiece of a permanent memorial at the site of the attack, at the intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road.

The City of London has also dedicated a garden to the Afzaal family.