The unravelling court case of Nathaniel Veltman, a 22-year-old accused for a blood-chilling crime, continued as he resumed to the witness box for a fifth consecutive day. Located in Windsor, Ontario, his gruesome trial is under active proceedings.
Veltman is under rigorous cross-examination by Assistant Crown attorney Jennifer Moser on four counts of terrorist-infused first-degree homicide, along with one count of attempt to murder driven by the same perverse motive. The incident befalls the tragic day of June 6th, 2021, where the Afzaal family was bereaved of four kin members owing to multiple fatal injuries. The victims encompassed grandmother Talat, her son Salman, his spouse Madiha, and their adolescent daughter Yumnah, leaving their nine-year-old son the sole survivor of the horrifying ordeal.
Veltman, while protesting innocence to all charges, confessed to driving his pickup truck into the unsuspecting family at the intersection of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road, in a court hearing. His admission less than a day following the attack revealed that these actions were fueled by his extreme far-right ideology, a warped intention to punish supposed minority on white transgressions unnoticed by the mainstream press.
Moser brought into the spotlight his statements to the police where he professed drawing inspiration from other terror acts and his aspiration of inciting similar acts in London. Now standing trial over two years and four months later, Veltman admitted to the jury, “None of my justifications make any sense.” He declared his police interviews as mere “nonsense,” “excuses,” and “loose talk.”
Veltman’s narration of the arrest aftermath depicted his struggle with the reality of his actions, pacing in his cell and attempting to cook up justifications for his deeds. Moser pointed out inconsistencies in Veltman’s testimonies, referring to his efforts to deflect blame to Muslims, Western nations, and the mainstream media.
The Afzaal family, whom Veltman admittedly did not know, caught his attention due to their traditional clothing. It was noted during the trial that only the older women of the family, Talat and Madiha, were donned in traditional Pakistani attire, shalwar, and kameez. This sighting prompted Veltman to yield to an urge strong enough to commit the act, he confessed.
Veltman’s claim of last-minute attempts to swerve away from the family was refuted by Moser, who reminded the court of evidence pointing to a 100% pressure on the gas pedal and a non-application of brakes four seconds before the horrifying incident. Veltman, on the contrary, maintains that he presented no danger to local Muslims. However, Moser suggested that Veltman’s pent-up anger found its target in the unsuspecting family.
Post-arrest, Veltman’s exchanges with Const. Sarah Cochrane revealed him advising a cab driver to “make a movie”, which Moser argued was a desire for his arrest to be publicized as a part of his intimidating message.
The state of disarray in Veltman’s apartment, the suspiciously high cost of his truck, and a noticeable stash of USBs in the open with no password protection further sickened the atmosphere. A piece of paper with Veltman’s handwriting, hinting at equations comparing vehicle speeds to projected death, injury, were among the chilling discoveries at his residence. All evidence pointed towards a premeditated act of terror, culminating in a trial that continues to grip the nation’s attention. Noteworthy, however, was Veltman’s denial of staging the apartment or intending his arrest to stir further violence.
Amidst all the monstrosity, Veltman’s insistence on reading his manifesto one last time before leaving his apartment felt more than chilling. Moser accused him of having a firm resolve to find Muslims and inflict harm on them, an allegation that Veltman admitted to being a possibility. As the trial progresses, so does the quest for justice for the Afzaal family.
