Ladner woman who killed her mother found not criminally responsible

In a measured ruling delivered at the British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver on October 10, 2024, Preety Panesar, 34, was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for the December 2023 death of her mother, Sarbjit Panesar, 62. The decision followed extensive psychiatric assessment and a review of evidence showing that Preety Panesar was experiencing an acute psychotic episode at the time of the incident, which occurred in the family home they shared in Ladner, a neighbourhood in Delta, British Columbia.

Details of the Incident and Initial Investigation

Sarbjit Panesar died from blunt force trauma on December 15, 2023. Police responded to a 911 call placed by Preety Panesar herself at approximately 11:40 p.m. that evening. Officers found Sarbjit Panesar in the living room of the two-storey home on 48th Avenue. The cause of death was later confirmed by the BC Coroners Service as multiple blunt force injuries to the head and torso. No weapons were recovered at the scene beyond household items, and investigators determined the altercation was confined to the residence.

Preety Panesar was taken into custody without incident and immediately referred for mental health evaluation. Court records indicate she had no prior criminal convictions, though family members later disclosed a documented history of untreated mental health challenges dating back several years. The investigation, led by Delta Police, concluded within weeks that the death resulted from actions taken during a dissociative state rather than premeditation or external motive.

Court Proceedings and Psychiatric Evidence

The case proceeded under the Criminal Code provisions governing mental disorder. Over three days of hearings in September and October 2024, the court heard testimony from two forensic psychiatrists retained by the Crown and defence. Both experts concluded that Preety Panesar met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia with acute psychotic features at the time of the offence. One report noted that auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions had intensified in the weeks preceding the incident, coinciding with a period in which she had discontinued prescribed medication without medical supervision.

Justice Maria Santos accepted the joint submission that Preety Panesar lacked the capacity to appreciate the nature and consequences of her actions. The verdict of not criminally responsible does not constitute an acquittal; instead, it triggers oversight by the British Columbia Review Board, which will determine the appropriate disposition, ranging from absolute discharge to detention in a forensic psychiatric hospital. Preety Panesar remains in custody at the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Port Coquitlam pending the board’s initial hearing, scheduled for November 2024.

Family Background and Community Context

The Panesar family immigrated to Canada from Punjab in 2005 and settled in Ladner, where Sarbjit Panesar worked as a bookkeeper for a local trucking firm while raising her daughter. Neighbours described the household as close-knit, with no prior reports of domestic conflict to police or social services. Community leaders from Delta’s Sikh population, estimated at over 15,000 residents according to the 2021 Census, expressed shock at the circumstances while emphasizing the need for culturally appropriate mental health outreach.

Statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association indicate that South Asian women in British Columbia face elevated barriers to psychiatric care, including language access and stigma within extended families. In 2023, the province recorded 2,184 involuntary admissions under the Mental Health Act in the Fraser Health region, which includes Delta, a 12 per cent increase from 2022. These figures underscore systemic pressures that experts say contributed to delayed intervention in cases such as this.

Legal Framework and National Data on NCR Verdicts

Under section 672.34 of the Criminal Code, a finding of not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder shifts focus from punishment to public safety and treatment. Review board data released by the Department of Justice in 2023 show that approximately 1,200 individuals are under such supervision nationwide at any given time. Recidivism rates for those released after treatment average 7.5 per cent for violent offences, significantly lower than the 25–30 per cent rate observed in the general offender population released from correctional facilities.

Defence counsel Michael Dhillon told the court that Preety Panesar had sought help from a family physician in 2022 but encountered wait times exceeding four months for a psychiatrist referral. “This verdict highlights the consequences when the system fails to provide timely intervention,” Dhillon stated outside the courtroom. Crown counsel Jennifer Rao declined to comment on the specific case but confirmed that the decision aligned with the evidence presented.

Expert Perspectives on Mental Health and Public Safety

Dr. Elaine Moreau, a forensic psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia who was not involved in the case, noted that early psychosis often manifests between ages 18 and 35 and frequently goes unrecognized until a crisis occurs. “Families are often the first to observe behavioural changes, yet they lack tools or knowledge about available pathways to care,” she said in an interview. Moreau cited a 2022 study in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry showing that 40 per cent of first-episode psychosis cases involve at least one prior contact with emergency services that did not result in sustained follow-up.

Delta Mayor George Harvie issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy while directing municipal resources toward expanded community mental health partnerships with Fraser Health. Local organizations, including the Delta Police Victim Services unit, have begun distributing information on crisis lines in Punjabi and English.

Implications for Policy and Support Systems

The Panesar case arrives amid ongoing provincial discussions about expanding the Assertive Community Treatment model, which provides intensive, multidisciplinary support for individuals with severe mental illness living in the community. British Columbia currently funds 18 such teams, serving roughly 1,800 clients; advocates argue that doubling capacity would address gaps exposed by incidents involving untreated psychosis.

Public safety considerations remain central. The Review Board will weigh factors including medication adherence history, family support networks, and risk assessment tools when determining Preety Panesar’s future placement. Absolute discharge is possible only if the board is satisfied that she poses no significant threat to public safety.

Legal observers note that media coverage of NCR cases can influence public perception, sometimes overstating risk. A 2021 Environics Institute survey found that 62 per cent of Canadians overestimate the likelihood of reoffending by individuals found not criminally responsible. Accurate reporting, experts say, requires distinguishing between the verdict’s legal meaning and its clinical implications.

This is Alex Thompson for Global1 News, reporting from Toronto. 🇨🇦

This is Alex Thompson for Global1 News, reporting from Toronto. 🇨🇦