Saskatoon murder trial: Victim's cousin says unusual texts were first sign that something was wrong
The trial for a Warman man accused of killing his wife’s cousin is underway at Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench.
Ranbir Dhull is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Samandeep Jhinger.
Dhull, 44, and Amandeep Kaur, 28, got divorced in 2020.
“He beat me,” Kaur testified about her ex-husband, who sat a few feet from her behind glass with his ankles shackled.
Jhinger moved to Warman, from Toronto, to help Kaur with her two kids.
The cousins worked at 7-Eleven together. Kaur usually worked the day shift and Jhinger worked the night shift, Kaur testified, through a Punjabi translator.
Kaur said Dhull would sometimes visit their children at the house and he had a copy of her work schedule.
On July 1, 2020, Kaur said she took a night shift because Jhinger had a flight to Winnipeg early the next day.
While at work, Kaur testified she received text messages from Jhinger’s phone saying she had to leave earlier.
When Kaur came home from work, she said Jhinger was gone and the kids were left unattended, crying.
Kaur said Jhinger’s luggage was gone. She also noticed her jewelry, a blanket and a pillow cover were missing.
Kaur testified she called her brother in Winnipeg who said Jhinger never arrived.
Kaur told court she believed Jhinger was driving to Winnipeg with Dhull, and she was angry with her cousin for not informing her about the travel changes.
When Kaur contacted Dhull about being with her cousin, he denied it and showed up at her house 45 minutes later, court heard.
Dhull had a vertical scratch above his eyebrow, Kaur testified.
A message from Jhinger’s phone to Kaur said her phone wasn’t working.
When Kaur said she was going to contact police, a text from Jhinger's phone said, “Please don’t tell anybody.”
Kaur said none of her calls to Jhinger were answered. She testified they rarely texted and typically called one another.
Jhinger was reported missing on July 2, 2020.
The next day, RCMP found Jhinger’s body in the Warman home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Police make arrests in grandparent scam that defrauded victims out of $739K
Ontario Provincial Police say they have 'disrupted' an organized crime group that allegedly used an emergency grandparent scam to defraud seniors across Canada out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.