A man who was convicted for his role in a violent attack on a Muslim family in London, Ontario is planning to appeal his conviction, according to his lawyer.
On June 6, 2021, a family of five was out for an evening walk when they were struck by a truck driven by Nathaniel Veltman, 20. Four members of the family were killed, while the youngest, a nine-year-old boy, was left with serious injuries.
Veltman was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He was also charged with terrorism under the Criminal Code of Canada, making it the first time a terrorism charge has been laid in connection with an attack on a Muslim family in Canada.
After a four-week trial, Veltman was found guilty on all counts by a jury on June 28, 2021. However, his lawyer, Sarah Shaikh, has confirmed that he plans to appeal the verdict.
In a statement, Shaikh said that Veltman maintains his innocence and believes that the evidence presented at trial did not support a conviction. She also stated that they will be seeking a new trial.
The appeal process is expected to take several months, with Veltman remaining in custody until then.
The attack on the Muslim family has sparked outrage and calls for action against Islamophobia in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called it a “terrorist attack” and promised to take action to combat hate and discrimination.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has also called for a national summit on Islamophobia to address the rise of hate crimes against Muslims in Canada.
The sentencing hearing for Veltman is scheduled for October 2021. He faces an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years for each of the four murder convictions. The terrorism charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The family of the victims has expressed their disappointment with the appeal, stating that they hope justice will be served and that no other family will have to go through a similar tragedy.
As the appeal process unfolds, the community continues to mourn the loss of the four family members and support the young survivor in his recovery.
