The man accused of running down a Muslim family with his pick-up truck has been found guilty.
Nathaniel Veltman has been found guilty on all counts in the deaths of four members of the Afzaal family and the injuring of a fifth.
It took the jury less than a day to come to its decision.
Veltman drove his truck into five members of the Afzaal family on June 6, 2021.
The family was stopped at a cross-walk on Hyde Park and South Carriage Roads when the attack occurred. Four members of the family were killed, while a young boy who was nine at the time was the only survivor.
For count one, the first degree murder of Salman Afzaal, Veltman was found guilty.
For count two, the first degree murder of Madiha Salman, Veltman was found guilty.
For count three, the first degree murder of Talat Afzaal, Veltman was found guilty.
For count four, the first degree murder of Yumnah Afzaal, Veltman was found guilty.
For count five, the attempted murder of the young boy, Veltman was found guilty.
Veltman showed little to no emotion as the verdict was read in court Thursday afternoon.
"He's in shock because he knows he's looking at 25 years in jail without hope of parole. That's a shock to him and he's absorbing that," said Defence lawyer Christopher Hicks outside the Windsor courthouse after the verdict was delivered.
The jurors sat through nine and a half weeks of evidence and arguments before they were sequestered on November 15, 2023.
The Crown took almost five weeks to present its evidence.
The prosecution team of Fraser Ball, Jennifer Moser, Sarah Shaikh, and Kim Johnson called eyewitnesses, a digital forensic expert, and a bevy of police officers to the stand.
The officers included Detective Micah Bourdeau who interviewed Veltman in the hours following his arrest, the officers who first responded to the scene of the attack, Veltman's arresting officers, and forensic investigators.
Sergeant Liyu Guan of the Windsor Police Service testified as a digital forensic expert, who reported the findings on the cellphone, laptop, external hard drive, and two USBs recovered from Veltman's London apartment.
The Crown also read excerpts from Veltman's manifesto "A White Awakening" into evidence before closing their case.
Veltman's defence team consisted of Hicks and Peter Ketcheson.
On Thursday, October 12, Veltman himself took the stand as the first witness in the defence's case. He remained on the witness stand for a full seven days.
The defence called on one other witness, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Julien Gojer before concluding its case.
Hicks said he needs to consult with his client before making any decisions on filing for an appeal.
"It was a long and challenging trial and there are very much live issues that perhaps should be resolved by an appellant tribunal. It's the first jury trial on terrorism so that's going to make it interesting in and of itself," said Hicks.
Justice Renee Pomerance oversaw the trial and will make the decisions regarding Veltman's sentence. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled on December 1, 2023.
In the wake of the verdict, relatives of the Afzaals released the following statement:
"We, the relatives of our beloved “Our London Family”, Salman, Talat, Madiha, Yumnah, and Fayez, wish to convey our gratitude for the support and solidarity expressed during these last 2.5 difficult years. We have felt this immense support from friends, family, and strangers throughout Canada from all walks of life, including those from various colours, creeds, and religions. We can never truly convey how meaningful everyone’s outpouring of support has been. The affirmation that our neighbours and friends stand with us is valued beyond measure.
We want to thank each, and every person involved in this process. From the first responders, the police, those at the scene, the witnesses, the team of crown attorneys, the jury, the judge, and to all those involved in the pursuit of justice, we cannot thank you enough.
While this verdict does not bring our loved ones back, it is a recognition by the justice system that the perpetrator of these heinous crimes is indeed a murderer and a terrorist. He intended to instill fear and terror in our hearts. However, this wasn’t just a crime against the Muslim community, but rather, an attack against the safety and security of all Canadians.
The enduring grief, trauma, and the irreplaceable void left by the loss of multiple generations has pierced us profoundly. The victims, who were valuable contributors to the Canadian society through their hard work and education, were taken away abruptly, leaving a 9-year-old orphaned. Their loss and our pain will always remain palpable. This tragedy underscores the critical need for urgent societal reflection and action.
This trial and verdict are a reminder that there is still much work to be done to address hatred in all forms that lives in our communities. His actions were intended to drive people apart. This trial forced us to return to that intersection once again. That dreadful crossroad where the very best & worst of humanity converged two and a half years ago. That juxtaposition between the diabolical intentions of a hell-bent criminal, and the love expressed by beautiful, teary-eyed strangers has become a catalyst for unity and justice.
This verdict represents to us, some solace for the crimes that were committed on that fateful day, June 6, 2021, which will forever be imprinted in our memory.
We have not been grieving alone. We are not healing alone. We pray that we can move forward to build a decent and just society.
We remember. We mourn. We heal. We will move forward together."
The verdict also drew a quick reaction from London Mayor Josh Morgan.
"While this represents an important step towards closure for the Muslim community and our city at large, it is by no means the end of that journey," Morgan wrote in a statement.
"The City of London is unwavering in its dedication to dismantling Islamophobia, racism and hate. We will spread to other communities lessons in understanding, inclusivity and love."
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) also shared its relief that Veltman had been found guilty on social media.
"We have to reflect deeply on the violent Islamophobia that has gripped our country," the post read.
"We hope that this final chapter in the legal saga following the attack will soon serve as a step toward healing for the affected family and the community in London, Ontario," the NCCM added.
Amira Elghawaby, Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia posted to X, formerly Twitter, in support of the surviving member of the Afzaal family.
"May their little boy grow up in love, surrounded by his extended family and community," she said.