The court cases for both Nathaniel Veltman, accused of the brutal murder of a London, Ont. Muslim family, and Kahli Johnson-Phillips, charged with another Windsor man’s killing, are currently in progress at the Windsor courthouse, while an investigation into a religious sanctuary break-in continues in tandem.
In a display of heinous violence that shocked the nation, 22-year-old Nathaniel Veltman stands trial for the monstrous act of deliberately mowing down a Muslim family with his pick-up truck in London, Ont. back in June 2021. Charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, Veltman listened as federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh tendered the premeditated nature of the killings during her opening statement. Shaikh held forth to the jury that Veltman, with cold-hearted intention, deliberately turned his vehicle around upon seeing the unsuspecting Afzaal family, floored the accelerator and drove into them on the curbside.
In an unrelated matter, 42-year-old job-seeker Nipun Puthenkandathil continues his losing battle in securing employment in Windsor. Despite tailoring his resume to match the several roles he’s applied for and his extensive work experience spanning 15 years in the global fashion and retail sectors, he remains overlooked by potential employers in Windsor, having received no callbacks or job offers since 2019.
A significant amount of cash has been stolen from a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Windsor. The city’s police have launched an investigation into the theft, which occurred during a ceremony. The perpetrators, three men, allegedly extricated a safe from the temple’s residential apartment filled with a substantial sum of money, leaving the scene in a vehicle operated by a fourth suspect.
Meanwhile, the City of Windsor awaits a decision from Ottawa Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) concerning its $40-million application. The city council, led by Mayor Drew Dilkens, hopes for a positive nod in October or November. The city’s application for federal funding follows the recent announcement that the City of London is the first recipient of HAF money, amounting to $74 million, intended to facilitate the construction of 2,000 new residences over the coming three years.
In an ongoing Windsor murder trial, dating back to a five-year-old shooting, the court heard the testimonies of two Windsor police officers. After Pantlitz-Solomon was shot in the early morning hours of Aug. 27, 2018, officers Andrew Crossette and Drew Palmer recounted hearing the gunshots at about 2:40 a.m while parked near the scene. First-degree murder and attempted murder charges have been levied against accused Kahli Johnson-Phillips in relation to the fatal incident.