2nd hitman sentenced to life in prison for B.C. murder of former Air India bombing suspect

A man hired to kill former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 20 years.

Jose Lopez, 26, is one of two men who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Malik's death. The other hitman, 24-year-old Tanner Fox, was also sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 20 years in late January.

Lopez wore a black suit and sat in front of his family during the sentencing in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster, a suburb of Vancouver.

Malik was shot dead outside his business in Surrey, B.C., on July 14, 2022, by Fox and Lopez.

The names of the people who hired Lopez and Fox to kill Malik have never been revealed.

Both men were originally charged with first-degree murder and admitted to being paid to kill Malik, who in 2005 was acquitted in B.C. Supreme Court along with his co-accused, Ajaib Singh Bagri, of charges related to the deaths of 331 people in the Air India case.

Malik's family living in fear

Prosecutor Matthew Stacey said Fox and Lopez shot Malik multiple times as he sat in his vehicle.

"This was a planned and deliberate killing of Mr. Malik," Stacey said. "And they were financially compensated for killing him."

In victim impact statements Friday, Malik's children spoke about the fear and anxiety they feel not knowing who hired Lopez and Fox. At times, Malik's family turned to face Lopez, begging him to share names.

Malik's family shared similar sentiments during Fox's sentencing, saying they live in fear, not knowing who wanted Malik dead.

"Mr. Fox, we plead with you to reveal the names of the people who hired you. This is the right thing to do," said Sundeep Kaur Dhaliwal.

A 2005 Canadian government report concluded the Air India bombings were carried out by Sikh Khalistani separatists in Canada, including bomb maker Inderjit Singh Reyat, who was convicted of manslaughter.