‘I will never forgive you,’ killer of 3 told at hearing
NEW WESTMINSTER — There was an outpouring of pain, anger and love in a New Westminster courtroom Thursday as victim-impact statements from family and friends of the three people killed by Sarbjit Bains in 2013 were read out during a sentencing hearing.
Bains pleaded guilty in April to manslaughter in the death of 29-year-old Amritpal Saran, and two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Jill Lyons, 45, and Karen Nabors, 48. They were killed on Feb. 23, Aug. 9 and Aug. 25, respectively.
“I will never forgive you,” said Simrit Saran, Amritpal’s younger sister. “You did what you did and now you have to deal with it. What gave you the right to take Amrit’s life?”
According to an agreed statement of facts, Bains, his common-law partner Evelina Urbaniak and Amritpal Saran knew each other and often drank and did drugs together.
On Feb. 23, 2013, Bains and Urbaniak called Amritpal to bring drugs to their Surrey apartment. That afternoon, the three drank and did cocaine together. Urbaniak went to bed later on, and the two men continued to consume alcohol and drugs. Bains went to the bathroom at one point and when he returned, he found Amritpal naked and about to get into bed with Urbaniak.
Bains told police following his arrest that “something just snapped” and he put Amritpal in a chokehold and dragged him out of the room. He said he used too much force and killed Amritpal.
Bains and Urbaniak put Amritpal’s body into a large plastic container and put him in Urbaniak’s car. They dumped the body on Colebrook Road and Bains set it on fire with gasoline.
The Crown and defence made a joint submission for a 10-year prison sentence.
Six months after killing Amritpal Saran, Bains murdered Lyons and Nabors in much the same way.
Bains contacted both women, who advertised online as escorts, and arranged to meet them at their apartments, which were in the same building in New Westminster. According to Bains’ lawyer, he was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and unemployed, so he was looking for “convenient targets” to rob.
He arrived at their apartments and tried to intimidate both women. When they screamed, he put them in chokeholds until they died. He stole credit and debit cards, cash and cellphones before leaving.
Bains was arrested and charged in January 2014.
The Crown and defence are seeking a life sentence with no parole eligibility of 18 years for the murders of Lyons and Nabors — with all three sentences to run concurrently. Justice Miriam Maisonville reserved her decision.