Client did not beat autistic man: lawyer

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — A lawyer representing a suspect in the beating of an autistic man says his client is not guilty of an attack that drew outrage from across the country.

Jag Virk said 25-year-old Ronjot Singh Dhami — whose last known address was in Surrey — will turn himself into police, but he maintains his innocence.

Peel Regional Police named Dhami as one of three suspects in the beating, which took place last week at a bus terminal in Mississauga, just west of Toronto.

Police identified the second suspect as Parmvir (Parm) Singh Chahil, a 21 year-old man of no fixed address.

The third person allegedly involved in the incident has not been positively identified.

A video of the attack released by police on March 13 shows the unidentified victim sitting at the bottom of a stairwell, putting on roller blades, when three men approached from behind and began to punch and kick him. The man suffered a broken nose and facial cuts. A Canada-wide arrest warrant for Chahil and Dhami was issued on one count each of aggravated assault.

Police said all three suspects might still be in the Toronto area and are being encouraged to call a lawyer and turn themselves in.