No bail for man accused of wife’s murder 30 years ago in Vernon

VERNON – A man accused of conspiring to murder his wife more than 30 years ago in Vernon was denied bail today.

Paramjit Singh Bogarh, 57, was ordered detained today by Supreme Court Justice Frank Cole, following lengthy legal arguments earlier this month.

We can’t publish the reasons why Bogarh was detained because the bail hearing is covered by a routine publication ban.

Bogarh and his brother Narinder Singh Bogarh are charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the 1986 stabbing death of Saminder Kaur Bogarh. She was married to Bogarh and they had a young son together, according to court documents filed in the U.S. in support of his extradition. 

Bogarh was extradited to Canada from the U.S. earlier this year and remains in custody. His brother currently resides in India and previous attempts to extradite him have failed, Bogarh’s defence lawyer Russ Chamberlain said in a May 31 interview. The B.C. Prosecution Service continues to pursue his extradition.

This is the second time Bogarh has faced murder charges in relation to his wife’s death. The first time was in 1987, just after Saminder’s Dec. 31, 1986 killing, but the charges were stayed shortly after.

Bogarh returns to court Aug. 2 to consult counsel.

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