Veltman trial, day 12: Jury hears from forensic identification officer

Justice Renee Pomerance (left to right), Nathaniel Veltman, defence counsel Peter Ketcheson and federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh attend court at Veltman's trial in Windsor, Ont., Monday, Sept.11, 2023. Federal prosecutors are arguing that a man facing murder charges in the deaths of four members of a Muslim family in Ontario was motivated by white nationalist beliefs, branding the attack as an act of terrorism. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexandra Newbould

WARNING: The video and the details in this article may be disturbing to some viewers

The trial of Nathaniel Veltman, who has been accused of intentionally striking a London, Ont. Muslim family with his pick-up truck, enters its third week Monday as the Crown continues to call witnesses.

Veltman, 22, is facing four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in relation to the deaths of the Afzaal family. Hehas pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Five members of the Afzaal family, were out for a walk on June 6, 2021 in London, Ont. when they were struck by a pick-up truck.

Grandmother Talat, 74, her son Salman, 46, his wife Madiha, 44 and their daughter Yumnah, 15, were all killed. Their nine-year-old son, suffered serious injuries but has since recovered.

The Crown has called Det. Const. Chris Thomas, a forensic identification officer with the London Police Service to testify Monday.

CTV Windsor's Michelle Maluske is live from the courtroom:

Crown Attorney Fraser Ball has called Detective Constable Chris Thomas, a forensic identification officer with the London Police service, a role he's held for the past 5 years.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

The crown is giving each juror a physical copy of all the photos taken by Det. Cnst. Thomas.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

GRAPHIC

There is a plastic evidence bag over the front left fender. Det. Cnst. Thomas says its to protect what he believes is "biological evidence" on the truck.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

These photos were taken 10:02 p.m., 1.5 hours after the pickup struck a family of 5 at the corner of Hyde Park Road and South Carriage Road in the city of London

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

A series of small blue cones appear to follow the path of the pickup truck, up off the street and onto the sidewalk and onto the grass and then back down onto the street.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

A closeup picture of the blue cones are right beside black marks & scuff marks on the sidewalk concrete.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

That concludes Det. Cnst. Thomas' examination in chief by CA Ball. Hicks questioning now..

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

He's asking Det. Cnst. about a knife he photographed and seized at the mall parking lot that was never processed as part of the investigation.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

Det. Cnst. Thomas asked about pieces of plastic "shards" he photographed and seized for the traffic management investigators.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

Hicks gets Det. Cnst. Thomas to confirm he didn't take any fingerprints off any items seized either at the scene of the collision or where the pickup truck was seized.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

CA Ball asks for the morning break. Jury excused.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

She's instructing the jury to not attach any significance to the fact there was a scene scan done for the investigation but it won't be shown during the trial.

Its because of an agreed statement of facts; Veltman admits he was driving the truck that struck the Afzaal family.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

Det. Cnst. Thomas' evidence is concluded by Ball.

Federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh has called a forensic identification officer who conducted a search warrant at Veltmans' apartment and went to search his pickup truck at a towing yard.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

Kudos to my colleague @NPaparellaCTV who caught it..

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

On June 13, 2021, @ 12:47p.m. he went to a tow yard, in the police compound; a section that only has "limited" access. He noticed and broke the seal on the truck door; the seal indicates no one else had been in the truck since it was seized at the parking lot.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

"It was really tight quarters" he says, that the compound bay was too small for him to be able to back up as much as he would have liked for a full view of the truck.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

The first photo, clearly shows the truck in a small bay, not much bigger than a car wash bay. It does have significant front end damage but the front grill is not bent or damaged at all.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

There is also some grass stuck in the bottom passenger side of the grill guard.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

At this point, Shaikh is reading in an agreed statement of facts.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

GRAPHIC

Shaikh says the DNA of two members of the Afzaal family was identified on the hood of the truck and DNA was identified of a 3rd victim on the front "push bar" or "grill guard"

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

Shaikh says she has a lot more questions for Det. Cnst. Veerman so court is on lunch break until 215pm.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

Det. Cnst. Veerman, a forensic identification specialist returns to the stand. He looked at pieces of plastic seized from the scene.

"The pieces fit" just like "a puzzle" beyond a reasonable doubt to having come from the truck driven by Veltman.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

 

The following items were found in the truck:
-6" cerrated knife
-airsoft pistol (that looked like a "black handgun")
-2.5" cerrated knife with a curved blade
-12" machete with a curved blade in the sheath

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

After he took his photographs, "a large team" was working on the investigation to "help execute the warrant". His role was strictly to photograph the apartment. The rest of the team was tasked with actually seizing items.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

The jury is coming back with another instruction from Justice Pomerance. She is telling them regardless of the questions about where the financial institution card is now, it doesn't matter. The parties have agreed it belonged to Veltman.

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023

Hicks has more questions for Det. Cnst. Veerman so the judge has released the jury for the day.

Court resumes tomorrow @ 10am

-30-

— Michelle Maluske (@MMaluskeCTV) September 25, 2023