Nathaniel Veltman’s Trial Nears Conclusion in Hit-and-Run Mass Murder of Muslim Family

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Nathaniel Veltman, the 22-year-old London man accused of the hit-and-run deaths of an immigrant Muslim family from Pakistan, is nearing the end of his mass murder trial in Windsor. The trial, which began on September 11, is expected to enter its final chapter next week.

Closing arguments from the defence and Crown are scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, after which Superior Court Regional Senior Justice Renee Pomerance will give her final instructions to the jury before deliberations begin.

Veltman, a college drop-out who previously worked at an egg-processing plant in Strathroy, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. The victims of the hit-and-run incident on June 6, 2021, were Talat Afzaal, 72, her son Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, and their daughter Yumnah Afzaal, 15. The couple’s nine-year-old son was also seriously injured.

Prosecutors from both the provincial and federal levels aim to prove that the deaths were planned and deliberate acts of white nationalist terrorism. This trial marks the first time Canada’s terrorism laws have been argued before a jury at a first-degree murder trial.

Throughout the trial, evidence has been presented to support the prosecution’s case. Veltman’s Dodge Ram pickup truck was shown to have intentionally struck the family at an intersection in northwest London. Video footage of the incident, Veltman’s subsequent arrest, and a police interview in which he identified as a white nationalist and expressed his motive for targeting the family were all presented to the jury.

Furthermore, evidence was presented that Veltman had consumed far-right, anti-Muslim content online and had recently purchased the truck and installed a bull bar on its front. The prosecution also read excerpts from Veltman’s manifesto, titled “A White Awakening,” which contained racist and extremist views.

The defence, on the other hand, called Veltman as their first witness, who spent over a week in the witness box. Veltman testified about his strict, Christian fundamentalist upbringing, his obsession with far-right online content, and his struggles with mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Veltman claimed that he was in a “dreamlike state” on the day of the incident due to ingesting a large quantity of magic mushrooms. He said that he had resisted the urge to run his truck into Muslims twice before, but when he saw the Afzaal family during a food run, he couldn’t control his “urge.”

The defence also called forensic psychiatrist Julian Gojer as a witness, who diagnosed Veltman with several mental health issues. Gojer suggested that the rebound effect of the magic mushrooms exacerbated Veltman’s pre-existing mental health conditions, making it impossible for him to resist his compulsions.

After Gojer’s testimony, the defence announced that no further evidence would be presented. The trial will resume on Tuesday with closing arguments from both sides before the jury begins deliberations.

It is important to note that these are simply allegations made in court and the trial is ongoing. The final verdict will be determined by the jury based on the evidence and arguments presented..