Life Sentence for Domestic Homicide in Calgary

0:00It's April 17th. Calgary News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. A Calgary judge just handed down a life sentence to 24-year-old Meninda Preet Singh for second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Manpreet Car. He pleaded guilty last October, and the judge set his parole in eligibility at 15 years, going along with a joint recommendation from both sides. That's above the usual 10-year minimum for this charge. The killing happened back on April 21st, 2024, at their home in Northeast Calgary. Cower, who was 25, died from neck compression by strangulation after months of physical and emotional abuse from Singh. He came to Canada on a work visa that's now expired, so deportation to India awaits once he's out on parole. Prosecutors pushed for the longer way before parole, calling domestic homicides, some of the worst crimes out there. They pointed to Singh's repeated attacks over bogus cheating claims in their arranged marriage, with hints of cultural factors playing in.

1:01Meanwhile, his lawyer highlighted Singh's deeper morse after he tried to end his own life by jumping from a third floor balcony the next day. Singh's been dealing with serious injuries from that fall, holding him back from programs like counseling for his opiate addiction, but he plans to tackle those in prison. In court, he called it the biggest mistake of his life, and vowed to do community service back home and his wife's name, helping the homeless and disabled. This case shines a light on the hidden toll of domestic violence, and with Singh headed back to India after serving time, it wraps up a tragic chapter here in Calgary.