Baldev Singh Kalsi, a former high-ranking member of Surrey’s Sikh community, has been ordered to stand trial in connection with the July 2014 death of his wife.
The decision was made Tuesday in Surrey Provincial Court, following a preliminary inquiry.
Kalsi – former president of the Gurdwara Sahib Brookside temple – was arrested in South Surrey on July 14, 2014 after police found his wife in severe medical distress at a home in the 19400-block of 32 Avenue.
Narinder Kaur Kalsi was airlifted to hospital and placed on life support. Police at the time described the incident as “domestic-related.”
Kalsi was removed as temple president four days later.
Initially charged with aggravated assault, then attempted murder, the accusation against Kalsi was upgraded to second-degree murder less than a week later, after Narinder was taken off of life support and pronounced dead.
Kalsi entered a not-guilty plea on Monday, at the start of the preliminary inquiry. A trial date is to be set July 21 in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster.