Justice Renee Pomerance this morning ruled that Nathaniel Veltman’s 2021 attack that killed four members of a Muslim family in London constituted terrorist activity.
Members of the Afzaal family who were in the courtroom cried as Pomerance made her finding.
The 23-year-old Veltman is being sentenced on four counts of first-degree murder, which carry an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years, and one count of attempted murder.
The sentence for that can vary.
The case marks the first time Canada’s terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial.
In a statement from members of the Afzaal family they stressed, “This trial wasn’t just about one act. It was a stark reminder of the fault lines that run deep within our society, the stereotypes that can erupt into violence.
“This verdict may offer a semblance of justice, but the work doesn’t end here. We all have a responsibility to carry.
“During this trial, we learnt that this hate is not just a threat to the Muslim community. Not even just to the London community.
“Hate is a societal enemy that threatens the very core of Canadian values.”
