A former president of a Sikh temple in Canada has pleaded guilty in the case of his wife’s death.
Baldev Singh Kalsi who was the president of a Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey for four years appeared in British Columbia Supreme Court on Monday.
His wife, Narinder Kalsi was brutally assaulted in her Surrey home in July 2014, and found in what police described as a life-threatening condition.
Police at the time described the incident as “domestic-related.” Baldev Kalsi was arrested on 14 July 2014 after the incident.
Mrs Kalsi was airlifted to hospital and placed on life support that was removed a week later.
Mr Kalsi was removed as the president of Gurdwara Sahib Brookside four days after his arrest.
Kalsi was originally charged with aggravated assault in July of 2014.
The charge against him was upgraded to second-degree murder after his wife’s death.
He was ordered to stand trial on the charge following a preliminary inquiry in Surrey Provincial Court in 2016.
On Monday, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The only words he spoke came after the clerk asked him to enter a plea.
"Yes, your honour. I am guilty," he said looking at the judge on Monday after the court clerk asked him to enter a plea.
But the local Sikh community expressed their shock at the incident.
“He is a very nice fellow and I know him for over thirty years. But this kind of an act from him.. we were shocked to hear this,” Sardul Singh Rehal, a worshipper at the gurudwara told Global news.
According to activists, the community needs to think about the issue of domestic violence.
"Violence against women is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by the South Asian community, including Sikhs," World Sikh Organization B.C. vice-president Jasbir Kaur Randhawa said.
He will be sentenced on February 22 next year.
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