Paramjit Singh Bogarh

Image Credit: NRIpress.com

A former Vernon resident extradited from the U.S. to face trial for the murder of his pregnant wife more than 30 years earlier has been given full parole and may have left the country.

Paramjit Singh Bogarh avoided his trial for murder and instead pleaded guilty to helping his brother flea Canada after the brutally stabbing his wife on Dec. 31, 1986. He was sentenced in a Kelowna courtroom in March 2020 to two years jail, having been in custody since being extradited from the U.S. in 2018.

However, according to a Parole Board of Canada decision, Bogarh was granted full-day parole in October 2020, but now may have left the country.

The decision said Bogarh met with Canada Border Services Agency officers and was issued a deportation order for India. Border Services Agency was scheduled to pick him up Nov. 3, 2020 and Bogarh had a ticket back to India a few days later.

However, the parole board said that Canada Border Services Agency has now said they intend to release Bogarh to U.S. authorities as it is legally obligated to do.

Bogarh was living in California prior to being extradited to Canada.

The decision says U.S. authorities wouldn't confirm with their Canadian counterparts what action would be taken against Bogarh and that a decision would only be made on the day.

It is not clear what Bogarh's immigration status is in the U.S. but earlier statements made in court said Bogarh had never fully immigrated to the U.S. Whether his conviction will affect his immigration status in the U.S. is unknown.

The case dates back to New Year's Eve 1986 when Bogarh's wife was stabbed to death at their Vernon home. Bogarh, along with his brother Narinder Bogarh were accused of the murder.

Paramjit went to live in California and remained there for 30 years, remarrying and having a family.

Narinder left Canada for India, and in a statement to the RCMP in 1997 or 2000 admitted to killing his brother's wife. It is thought Narinder is still in India.

According to the parole board's decision, there is still uncertainty about Paramjit's role in the murder.

"Your involvement in the murder of your spouse remains unclear given the circumstantial information on file surrounding the offence. You have denied the circumstantial information but the Board notes you have proven to be capable of deception and deceit," reads the decision.

In granting the parole the board said Paramjit had not been involved in any negative behaviour while incarcerated but had been assaulted in 2018 due to "the nature" of his offence.

The board says there are no reasonable grounds to believe that Paramjit would commit an offence involving violence and therefore grants the 59-year-old full parole.

The decision also says Paramjit has access to "large amounts of money" both in Canada and the U.S. as well as India, and has family in all three countries.

For past stories on the case go here.

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