Jury to decide Ont. man's fate after ping pong game turned deadly
A jury of seven women and five men listened to closing arguments in the manslaughter trial of a man accused of taking his uncle's life in a Mono home during a heated ping pong game three years ago.
"This is no doubt a tragic case," defence lawyer Peter Brauti said. "Family members who loved and cared about each other got into a trivial disagreement, and Mr. Osahan died."
Anmol Saggu, 30, faces charges of manslaughter and assault for pushing his uncle when things got violent in the early morning hours on Nov. 1, 2019.
Fifty-year-old Taranjit Singh Osahan fell to the floor after the fight and never regained consciousness.
The forensic expert, who performed an autopsy on Taranjit, testified he had a severe long-standing coronary artery disease that left the man "at risk of sudden death at any time."
The defence told the jury that because of his heart condition, Saggu couldn't be guilty of manslaughter.
Brauti said Saggu came under attack for looking up the rules of ping pong, and his cousin got angry. He told the court Taranjit got in Saggu's face "to defend his son," and Saggu pushed him back to create space, noting his client wasn't angry. "At his highest, he was annoyed."
"Whether it was the push or a grab at the clothing, it doesn't matter because all of those would be reasonable actions under the law of self-defence," he stated.
During the Crown's closing, attorney Chris Pressman called the situation an "unusual set of circumstances," stating that Saggu didn't act in self-defence, rather he was acting "aggressively."
However, the defence argued it wasn't until between four and seven minutes after the fight, based on the four 911 calls from the basement that fateful morning, that Taranjit collapsed.
"You must acquit," he concluded.
Justice Gisele Miller will finish instructing the jury Thursday. The jury will then have to decide if Saggu is guilty of manslaughter and assault.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.