The man found guilty of accessory after the fact in the murder of Simon Fraser University student Maple Batalia will receive his sentence next week.
That day will mark the end of a five-year ordeal for the family of Maple Batalia, who was gunned down while leaving a study session outside the SFU Surrey campus in 2011 by her jealous ex-boyfriend, Gurjinder “Gary” Dhaliwal.
Dhaliwal was found guilty of second-degree murder in March and sentenced to life with no parole for 21 years and on Monday, Gursimar Bedi was found guilty with accessory after the fact for the shooting and stabbing of Batalia.
READ MORE: ‘My life feels like a burden’: Maple Batalia’s mother, family read out victim impact statements
In an exclusive interview with Global News, the Batalia family said they still cannot understand why Dhaliwal killed her. And now, they are warning other parents to look out for signs their teens may be trapped in abusive relationships.
Looking back, her family admits the signs of how controlling Batalia’s boyfriend had become were all there.
“She wouldn’t go out with her friends, she would barely go out anywhere with me,” Batalia’s sister Roseleen explained.
“Anytime she wanted to do something, it felt like there’s something that would happen over the phone and then [she would] say I’m just going to stay home… and I’d [say] what’s going on. Or there were times if she didn’t answer her phone, my phone would ring and he’s asking me where she is…I felt like she was constantly being hounded or she would have to report back.”
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According to her family, after four years together, Batalia wanted out and Dhaliwal refused to accept it. That’s when Dhaliwal began stalking her and sending her thousands of text messages. A month after the break up, Dhaliwal bought a gun, a knife and convinced his friend Bedi to spy on Batalia, who was studying to become a dermatologist but was also an aspiring actress and model.
In March the court heard on the night of September 28, 2011 the pair sat outside Surrey’s SFU campus and when Batalia came out just after 1 a.m., Dhaliwal attacked. He shot at her five times, three of which hit her torso, and then he slashed her head 11 times.
After Batalia’s mother, Sarbjit, received the news of her daughter’s death, she says she called Dhaliwal’s mother, who was her friend.
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Even though Dhaliwal is behind bars, dealing with the aftermath of their daughter’s murder has been difficult. When waiting to see Dhaliwal and Bedi stand trial hit the four-year mark, the family launched an online petition addressed to the federal government, asking for the justice system to be reformed to cater to the needs and rights of victims and their families.
READ MORE: Maple Batalia’s family still looking for justice four years after the teen’s murder
Batalia’s parents say even though justice was served, they struggle daily – but that what happened to their daughter is a warning to others.
“If your son or daughter is controlling someone, please help,” Sarbjit said.
For more information on how to get help regarding an abusive relationship, contact the Dating Violence Hotline at 1-855-687-1868.
~ with files from Sonia Deol
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