London court to broadcast Windsor trial of man accused of killing Afzaal family

Courtrooms in London, Ont., will be used to broadcast the trial of the man accused of killing members of the Afzaal family in 2021, with the physical trial set to take place in Windsor.

The trial, which starts on Sept. 5, will be live streamed in two London court rooms, directly from the proceedings in Windsor. This will provide Londoners viewing access to the trial, the accused's lawyer, Christopher Hicks, confirmed to CBC News.

Nathaniel Veltman, 22, faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in what prosecutors allege was an act of terrorism. In January 2023, a judge decided he would face trial in Windsor.

The reasons for the change of venue from London to Windsor are under publication ban, however, lawyers tell CBC News they believe it involves the community's attachment to the case.

Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter, Yumnah, and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal, were killed. The couple's nine-year-old son was seriously hurt.

Veltman, who was 20 at the time of his arrest, is accused of deliberately hitting the family with his truck as they were out for a walk on the evening of June 6, 2021.

The deaths in the Afzaal family sent waves of shock, grief and fear across the country, and spurred ongoing calls for measures to combat Islamophobia.

Most recently, on the second anniversary of the attack, hundreds of people came to commemorate the family while carrying on the fight against Islamophobia.