In a deeply disturbing case unfolding at the Laval courthouse, the man accused of killing his two young children in 2022 has begun presenting his defense through personal testimony. Kamaljit Arora, 49 years old, faces first-degree murder charges for the deaths of his 11-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, whose identities remain protected under a publication ban.
Charges and Allegations
Arora is additionally charged with plotting the attempted murder of his now 22-year-old daughter, Jasmine, and with assaulting his wife, Rami Rani Arora, by strangulation. The tragic incident occurred on October 17, 2022, inside the family's Laval home, where Arora has admitted to drowning both children.
Defense Focuses on Mental Health
Before Arora took the witness stand, his defense lawyer Elise Pinsonnault delivered an opening statement to the jury, setting the stage for what she described as a story of profound mental deterioration. "You will hear from Mr. Arora himself," Pinsonnault told jurors, emphasizing that they would learn about the mental health issues that began plaguing Arora in 2020 and "the impact these changes had on him."
The jury has already heard evidence that Kamaljit suffered from depression and anxiety during this period. Pinsonnault announced that a psychiatrist who treated Arora from 2020 to 2022 will also testify for the defense, promising that "you will hear about the limits of psychiatry." She framed the trial as presenting "two sides of a coin" in both life and legal proceedings.
Personal Testimony Begins
Speaking in English, Kamaljit Arora commenced his testimony by recounting his personal history, telling jurors how he was born in India and made the decision to move his family to Canada in 2015. His testimony marks a crucial phase in the trial as the defense seeks to establish how his mental state may have contributed to the horrific events of 2022.
The case continues to unfold with graphic and emotionally charged testimony expected in the coming days as both prosecution and defense present their competing narratives about what led to the children's deaths and whether mental health factors should influence the outcome of this murder trial.
