A Canadian court has delivered a significant judgment, sentencing an Indian-origin man to 25 years in prison for a 2022 homicide. This decision, widely reported by local media, concludes a major case that has drawn considerable attention.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, a jury at the Supreme Court of British Columbia found Balraj Basra guilty of first-degree murder and arson. According to City News, this conviction makes Basra the third individual to be held accountable for the fatal shooting of Vishal Walia.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) confirmed that Vishal Walia was tragically killed on October 17, 2022, at a golf club located on the grounds of the University of British Columbia. CBC reported on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, that Basra’s sentencing follows those of two other men involved in the crime, Iqbal Kang and Deandre Baptiste.
Iqbal Kang previously received a 17-year prison sentence, alongside an additional five-year concurrent sentence for arson. Deandre Baptiste was sentenced to life in prison, with no eligibility for parole for 17 years, as detailed in various reports.
The horrific events of October 2022 saw the three convicts fatally shoot 38-year-old Vishal Walia, then set fire to a vehicle in an attempt to cover their tracks. Police were promptly alerted to the scene.
Responding swiftly, officers from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) quickly identified the suspects, who had attempted to escape in a different vehicle. Through a coordinated effort, British Columbia Highway Patrol, the Richmond Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the VPD successfully apprehended the suspects just minutes after the incident.