Trial begins for Guelph man accused of killing his father

Warning: This story contains graphic details of a crime scene.

The first witness took the stand Monday at the second-degree murder trial of a Guelph man.

On Feb. 28, 2023, first responders were called to a home on Hands Drive where they found 68-year-old Balbir Singh Sidhu dead.

His son, Jaspal Singh Sidhu, was then arrested at the scene.

During opening statements at the Wellington County Courthouse, Crown Attorney Peter Keen told the jury that Balbir Singh Sidhu was stabbed eight times. He also said two of the wounds, one in his side and the other in his chest, would have been fatal.

First witness

A Guelph Police officer was the first witness called to testify at the trial.

She said Feb. 28, 2023 was not the first time she had been at the Hand Drive home, she had been called there on previous occasions for disturbances.

The officer’s body camera video was also shown to the court.

It showed her asking Jaspal Singh Sidhu: “Are you stabbed? Where are you stabbed?”

He could be heard responding: “He grabbed a bigger knife, and I don’t know what happened.”

When officers found Balbir Singh Sidhu, a large kitchen knife was sticking out of his chest and his hand was gripping the handle. A second knife, which was broken into two pieces, was found beside his body.

According to the Crown, blood was found in both the living room and the kitchen of the home.

Testimony is expected to continue on Tuesday.