Forensics set to dominate Crown evidence at Ranbir Dhull murder trial
Dan Zakreski | CBC News | Posted: October 4, 2022 12:21 AM | Last Updated: October 4, 2022
Three witnesses take the stand for the Crown
The Ranbir Dhull murder trial in Saskatoon is moving into the forensic phase with the Crown calling two expert witnesses — and a former colleague of the accused killer.
The 44-year-old former taxi driver is on trial and charged with first-degree murder, before a judge alone, at Court of King's Bench. It's alleged that Dhull killed his ex-wife's cousin, Samandeep Jhinger, in Warman, about 20 km northeast of Saskatoon, in early July 2020.
Dhull is charged with first-degree murder because Jhinger died while being unlawfully confined.
On Oct. 3, an RCMP fingerprint expert testified, along with an RCMP sergeant who specializes in recovering memory from electronic devices.
Imtiaz Ahmad, a former taxi colleague of Dhull's, testified that Dhull borrowed his van on July 2, 2020.
Ahmad said Dhull told him he needed the van to move toys for his kids. After getting the van back, Ahmad discovered four pieces of luggage in the back. They included a carry-on, a purse-type bag, a small basket and a large bag.
Ahmad took the luggage to police.
Jhinger was supposed to fly to Winnipeg on July 2. But, her body was found rolled in a carpet and hidden in the basement of a Warman home belonging to Dhull's ex-wife Amandeep Kaur. Dhull had access to the home for childcare purposes.
Fingerprint analysis
Last week, an RCMP expert testified that "friction ridges" on adhesive tape used to bind Jhinger matched Dhull's fingerprints. On Monday, Cpl. Tyler Hadland went over the fingerprint analysis and corroborated the original officer's findings.
Hadland works in the RCMP's forensic identification unit in Saskatoon and testified as "a verifier of fingerprint comparisons."
Earlier in the trial, Dhull's ex-wife Kaur described getting texts from Jhinger's phone early on July 2, 2020, the day Jhinger was supposed to travel to Winnipeg. In hindsight, Kaur said she now suspects the texts did not come from Jhinger because the tone and content did not sound like her cousin.
On Monday, RCMP Sgt. Paul Fisher began testifying and explained how investigators analyzed the call logs on five mobile phones.
Pathologist Shawn Ladham and a DNA expert are expected to testify for the Crown on Tuesday and Wednesday.