Duct Tape Evidence Emerges in Laval Murder Trial Involving Children's Deaths
The murder trial of Kamaljit Arora at the Laval courthouse entered its second week with chilling testimony from a crime scene technician who described finding what appeared to be duct tape remnants on the clothing of two deceased children.
Technical Evidence Points to Binding
Detective-Sergeant Mathieu Gaudet of the Sûreté du Québec testified that during his investigation into the deaths of Arora's 11-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, he discovered greyish substances on the victims' clothing that resembled duct tape. The technician specifically noted a grey ribbon around the right wrist of the girl's Gap brand hoodie and similar substances on the boy's clothing.
"I photographed a reddish substance around the hood and at the base of it," Gaudet told the jury regarding the girl's clothing. "On the left wrist of the hoodie, I noticed a greyish substance and what appeared to be duct tape around the right wrist."
Background of the Case
Kamaljit Arora, 49, faces multiple serious charges including:
- First-degree murder of his 11-year-old son
- First-degree murder of his 13-year-old daughter
- Plotting the attempted murder of his 22-year-old daughter Jasmine
- Assaulting his wife Rami Rani Arora by strangulation
Despite these charges, Arora has pleaded not guilty to all counts. However, through a series of admissions at the trial's outset, he has conceded that the children died by drowning and that he caused their deaths.
Neighbor's Testimony Reveals Disturbing Details
Annie Charpentier, who lived next door to the family on Lauzon Street in Laval's Ste-Dorothée district, provided emotional testimony about the day of the tragedy. She described how Jasmine Arora came running to her house asking to call 911.
"I was coming home from work and I saw Jasmine come out of her home," Charpentier testified. "She knocked on a neighbour's door, but there was no immediate answer. She then turned toward me and said 'I need a telephone.'"
When Charpentier asked what number to call, Jasmine responded "911" and when questioned about what to tell emergency services, the young woman stated: "My father killed my brother and my sister."
Additional Evidence and Testimony
Gaudet's testimony revealed several other significant details about the investigation:
- He initially photographed injuries on Jasmine Arora, including one on her lower lip
- He checked under her fingernails for DNA evidence
- He documented that the children's clothing was "completely wet" when he photographed it at the hospital
- The clothing had been cut, likely by first responders or hospital staff attempting resuscitation
- The boy's clothing had to be retrieved from a hospital trash can
Jasmine Arora testified previously that she struggled with her father both before and after discovering her younger sister's body. She also mentioned that one of her siblings appeared to be foaming at the mouth when she found them.
The trial continues with a publication ban protecting the identities of both deceased children as the court examines the disturbing circumstances surrounding their deaths.
