Wrongfully convicted of murder decades ago, Thomas Sophonow back in court for son accused of same crime
Preliminary inquiry begins for Christopher Desjarlais, charged with murder in death of Randeep Singh Dhaliwal
More than 30 years after he was wrongfully convicted of murder, Thomas Sophonow is once again inside a courtroom, this time to support his son who is now facing the same charge.
"I just want to find out what happened," said Sophonow outside the courtroom.
Randeep Singh Dhaliwal, 39, was found dead inside a home in the northeast community of Pineridge last November.
Days after Dhaliwal's body was discovered, Christopher Desjarlais, 42, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Police said at the time the victim and accused knew each other through mutual friends and that the two men got in a fight which turned physical, and ultimately fatal.
On Monday, Desjarlais' five-day preliminary inquiry began. The goal of the hearing is for the Crown to question its key witnesses so the judge can decide if there is enough evidence to send the case to trial.
None of the details that come out in court can be reported — a publication ban is in place to protect Desjarlais' right to a fair trial by preventing prospective jurors from hearing evidence before the trial.
In the gallery of the courtroom, Dhaliwal's mother became emotional, using her scarf to dab away tears. Sophonow quietly approached her, offering tissues.
'It's not Winnipeg'
In 1981, Barbara Stoppel, 16, was strangled in the women's washroom at a Winnipeg doughnut shop and died in hospital days later.
Sophonow had been visiting his daughter in Winnipeg at the time.
In March of 1982, police laid murder charges against Sophonow. He was ultimately convicted and spent nearly four years in jail. Three trials later, Sophonow was acquitted and released in December 1985.
The judge who presided over the inquiry wrote in his 2001 report that the investigation was a blatant example of police "tunnel vision."
In 2000, Sophonow was exonerated. He now lives in British Columbia.
Sophonow says he does not have an aversion to being at the Calgary Courts Centre.
"It doesn't bother me at all, it's not Winnipeg."
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