North News

Chandigarh, October 22

 Two men have pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the contract killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a British Columbia man acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombings. Tanner Fox, 21, and Jose Lopez, 23, entered their pleas on Monday in New Westminster Supreme Court, according to Canada based news outlet The Globe and Mail.

During the proceedings, Lopez reportedly attacked Fox before being restrained by sheriffs. Both men were originally charged with first-degree murder and will return to court on October 31 for another hearing, with sentencing to follow later. According to the U.S.-based news outlet The Washington Post, Ripudaman was acquitted of murder and conspiracy charges related to the 1985 Air India bombings. The attack, which involved the high-altitude bombing of an aircraft, led to the plane crashing into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland, resulting in the deaths of all 329 passengers and crew on board. This act of terrorism remains the deadliest mass murder in Canadian history.