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Co-accused in Maple Batalia case not guilty of manslaughter; guilty of accessory after the fact

Judge rules on Gursimar Singh Bedi's role in murder of Surrey teen.
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Maple Batalia was gunned down in the parkade of SFU Surrey in 2011.

A judge has ruled Gursimar Singh Bedi is not guilty of manslaughter in relation to the killing of Surrey teen Maple Batalia four-and-a-half years ago.

However, he has been found guilty of being an accessory after the fact.

Justice Terence Schultes rendered his decision in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster on Friday regarding the role of  Bedi in the killing of Batalia.

Gursimar Singh Bedi

The shooting took place on Sept. 28, 2011.

Bedi’s co-accused, Gurjinder (“Gary”) Dhaliwal, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 21 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in Batalia’s death.

During the trial, Crown contended that while Dhaliwal was the one to shoot Batalia – his ex-girlfriend – three times and slash her numerous times with a knife, it was Bedi who rented the car that laid in wait outside SFU Surrey.

It was also Bedi who tracked Batalia and reported her whereabouts to her killer, Crown counsel asserted.

“In doing so, Mr. Bedi served as the eyes and ears of Mr. Dhaliwal,” Crown said during trial.

Police found bullet casings and a knife at the crime scene and also examined a white Dodge Charger linked to the murder.

Inside the car investigators found a receipt from a car wash, a blood stain on a headlight control dial and a stain on the driver’s side sun visor.

There was also a bullet casing lodged under the hood of the car, the court heard.

Sentencing will be determined at Bedi's next court appearance on June 9.