Woke Canadian judge halts deportation of Indian trucker who killed 16 hockey players in crash over fears for HIS mental well-being

A Canadian judge has halted the deportation of an Indian trucker who killed 16 members of a youth ice hockey team over concerns it would harm his mental health.

Judge Jocelyne Gagne granted a temporary stay of Jaskirat Singh Sidhu’s deportation just three days before he is scheduled to return to India this week.

Sidhu, 37, ran a stop sign past a semi-truck filled with peat moss at 53 to 60 mph before crashing into a bus carrying Humboldt Broncos players in rural Saskatchewan on April 6, 2018.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to eight years in prison in March 2019, but was released on parole after just four years and four months behind bars.

The Immigration and Refugee Board revoked Sidhu’s permanent resident status and ordered his deportation just a year after his release from prison.

In a desperate attempt to prevent Sidhu’s deportation, Sidhu’s legal team appealed for him to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Lawyers argued Sidhu has two young children who will be affected by his absence and lives with mental health issues, including depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, that could be worsened if he is deported.

On Friday, Judge Gagne suspended his deportation until the court ruled on his residence application, stating that ‘given his suicidal tendencies, he would suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a restraining order’. CBC News reported.

When Sidhu crashed in Saskatchewan, Canada, he hit a bus carrying a total of 29 people, including the driver and the Humboldt Broncos (above). Ten teammates and six staff members lost their lives

Sidhu appeared in federal court in Calgary last Friday, just three days before his scheduled deportation.

The court heard his lawyer, Navi Dhaliwal, told the judge there was a “very high chance” Sidhu would commit suicide if he was forced to return to India.

“This is not about the availability of treatment,” Dhaliwal said. ‘This is about the damage he will do during his removal.’

Co-counsel Michael Sherritt added that Sidhu should not be penalized due to the long processing time of his immigration case.

Alexander Menticoglou, representing the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, argued that the first phase of the humanitarian and compassionate appeal could last 17 months.

He noted that the law’s postponement is only for short-term emergencies lasting a few months.

Menticoglou also argued that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that Sidhu was an imminent risk of suicide.

“The applicant is a convicted criminal and is responsible for the deaths of 16 Canadians,” Menticoglou told the court. ‘This is among the worst tragedies in Canadian history and we do not need to consider whether the applicant is morally responsible for this crime because-‘

But Judge Gagne interrupted him, stating that Sidhu’s crimes were ‘addressed in the criminal court and in the sentence imposed.’

Judge Jocelyne Gagne granted a temporary stay of Sidhu’s deportation, telling the court that “given his suicidal tendencies, he would suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a restraining order.”

A parent whose son died in the hockey bus crash was outraged by Gagne’s decision, claiming that deportation was part of Sidhu’s sentence and should be honored.

“Deportation back to India, while not anyone’s favorite choice, is not a death sentence,” said former NHL player Chris Joseph, who lost his son Jaxson in the tragedy. Media Bezirgan. ‘What we have is a death sentence.’

Canadian law states that a legal immigrant with permanent resident status may lose his or her status and face deportation if convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than six months.

Joseph described how the criminal court judge, immigration officials, the appeals court and the Canada Border Services Agency determined Sidhu should be deported.

‘It was part of the sentence of deportation. Forgiveness doesn’t mean he will be any more special than other criminals,’ Joseph said.

The grieving father added that unlike the accident victims, Sidhu could still be with his family even if he was deported. He said: ‘His family can go to India with him. ‘If my wife or I were deported, we would be there for each other.’

Russ Herold, whose son Adam was the youngest player to die in the crash, previously told CBC he thought Sidhu should have been deported years ago.

‘to talk [Sidhu] I’m trying to stay here for humanitarian reasons. ‘What about the human side of parents who lose their children?’ said Herold.

‘It’s not like he stole our car and we can go buy another one. ‘We can never replace our children.’

The hockey team’s bus and the truck that hit it, as well as cargo scattered around, after the crash in 2018

While some of the victims’ families expressed support for Sidhu to remain in the country, head coach Darcy Haugan’s widow, Christine Haugan, also argued that deportation would not bring the victims back and would only harm Sidhu’s family.

‘I forgive him,’ he said. ‘When he closes his eyes, I’m sure he sees terrible things, and I hope there’s a way for him to forgive himself and know that he’s allowed to be happy too.’

Sidhu caused the fatal accident by failing to brake and ignoring multiple warnings, including a flashing light, as he approached the intersection of two highways.

He was not impaired by drugs or alcohol, excessive speed, or telephone conversation at the time of the fatal crash; Instead, he told the court during his sentencing that he was distracted by a tarp covering his load, flapping in the wind.

It was later revealed that Sidhu had violated federal and state trucking regulations 70 times in the 11 days before the crash.

Many of these were inconsistencies in the logbook, which is designed to track how much time drivers spend on the road to prevent them from becoming dangerously fatigued.

Immediately after the crash, Sidhu, at sentencing, told the victims’ families how he got out of his truck and heard the teenagers crying.

Sidhu pleaded guilty, was jailed in 2019 and was released on parole in 2023, returning to suburban life with his Canadian wife.

The couple had a baby soon after. The child has serious heart and lung complications.