A Surrey Provincial Court judge has sentenced two Surrey men to three years in prison each after they drove 1.3 km with a man’s body trapped beneath their car.
In a July 16 decision, Judge Mark Jetté said that victim J.G. — who was Indigenous and 47 years old — was alive for some of the incident but died at some point before he was dislodged from the Mustang by the men on Jan. 27, 2024. They drove off, leaving him at the side of the road.
“J.G.’s injuries were horrific; some of those injuries must have happened while he was still alive,” Jetté said.
The Cree man, a respected singer and sun dancer, left behind a spouse and nine-year-old child.
Jetté said Gaganpreet Singh, 22, and Jagdeep Singh, 22, pleaded guilty to improperly or indecently interfering with, or offering an indignity to a dead human body or human remains; reckless driving involving another person and failing to remain at the scene; and dangerous driving.
“The total distance travelled by the Mustang after Gaganpreet and Jagdeep first became aware that a person was trapped beneath their vehicle was about 1.3 kilometres,” Jetté said.
“I find that Gaganpreet and Jagdeep are equally culpable for these offences,” Jetté said.
The two now face deportation.
What happened?
The judge said Dakshpal Singh and wife Rubina were northbound on Surrey’s University Drive early that morning when they saw something laying on the road near 105th Avenue.
“They stopped, and saw that this was an adult male, later identified as J.G.,” Jetté said. “They called out to the male but he did not respond. Dakshpal drove ahead, parked nearby, and called 911 for medical assistance.”
At about the same time Dakshpal was calling 911, Gaganpreet was driving a Ford Mustang northbound on University Drive.
Jagdeep — the Mustang’s owner — was in the front passenger seat. A third, uncharged man was in one of the rear passenger seats.
Jetté said the Mustang struck the male who was lying on University Drive.
“Gaganpreet continued to drive away with that person stuck beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle,” the judge said.
Dakshpal saw the collision and the Mustang drive away and stop some 50 metres further north.
While still on the phone to 911, Dakshpal ran up to the Mustang.
“Jagdeep and Gaganpreet were outside the Mustang, and both looked under the car and saw that J.G. was trapped. Dakshpal could see a hand protruding from underneath,” Jetté said.
Part of the conversation between Jagdeep and Dakshpal was captured in the 911 call, Jetté said.
The Crown submitted that when Dakshpal reported to the 911 dispatcher that someone had driven over a man who was underneath the car, Jagdeep could be heard to say in English “no, no, he’s sleeping” followed by something in Punjabi.
Jagdeep’s defence disagreed that her client said this, Jetté said.
“Having listened to the recording, I conclude that someone said it. I cannot say if it was Jagdeep, Gaganpreet, or the third man in the vehicle,” Jetté said.
Gaganpreet and Jagdeep got back into the vehicle and Gaganpreet drove away at an estimated speed of 60-70 km/h with J.G. still stuck beneath the vehicle.
“After running two red lights and executing a couple of turns, Gaganpreet stopped the vehicle and reversed the car in an effort to dislodge J.G.,” Jetté's decision said.
That attempt failed, and he drove forward a short distance into a nearby cul-de-sac.
Using a flashlight, Gaganpreet and Jagdeep looked under the vehicle.
“Jagdeep then got behind the wheel and reversed the vehicle while Gaganpreet held onto J.G.’s body,” Jetté said.
“This process was repeated multiple times before J.G. was finally dislodged. The two men returned to the vehicle and Jagdeep drove away, leaving J.G. lying on the side of the road.”
Deportation
Gaganpreet came to Canada alone on an international student visa in 2022. Jetté said it’s expected he will be ordered deported.
“Gaganpreet has expressed remorse for his conduct, and has demonstrated some insight regarding the terrible loss suffered by the family of the deceased and others in the community,” Jetté said.
Jagdeep arrived in Surrey from India in 2023 and attended a travel tourism program at Cambria College and obtained a one-year hospitality certificate. He relocated to Victoria to work in construction.
Jagdeep’s parents have been financially and emotionally devastated by these events, the court heard. He also faces removal from Canada.
“Both expressed remorse in comments to the court at the conclusion of the sentence hearing; I accept that their remorse is genuine,” Jetté said.
