Nicholas Baig (“Baig”) has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his pregnant wife, Arianna Goberdhan (“Goberdhan”) (27 years old).
Goberdhan’s family and friends are outraged that Baig was charged and sentenced for the murder of one person, not two. Under Canadian law, Goberdhan’s unborn child is not considered a person and is therefore not the victim of a crime.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Goberdhan and Baig were married in November, 2016 and lived for a period of time with his parents in Pickering. Goberdhan moved back into her parent’s home in January, 2017 as their relationship had deteriorated.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard evidence of “vile” texts from Baig to his wife and was made aware that the police had been called on a few occasions. In fact, a week before the murder, the police were called when Baig came to the Goberdhan’s home and broke down a door when he was refused entry.
On April 7, 2017, Goberdhan left her parent’s home in Ajax at 6:30 p.m. and drove to see Baig in Pickering. Goberdhan called 911 at 9:42 p.m. that evening. Although she did not speak to the operator, Goberdhan was overheard pleading with Baig to let her go home. The 911 operator called her back when the call ended and she confirmed that she needed the police. Security cameras recorded Baig leaving the residence at 9:44 p.m., and driving off in Goberdhan’s vehicle.
When police arrived on scene, they found Goberdhan deceased, with a large knife beside her body. She was nine months pregnant at the time. It was determined that Baig had stabbed Goberdhan 17 times. Baig was arrested the following day and has remained in custody since his arrest.
Baig pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Goberdhan.
Given his guilty plea to second-degree murder, Baig faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison. However, it was up to the judge to decide when he would be eligible to apply for parole. The minimum period of parole ineligibility for the offence is 10 years.
The Crown prosecutor recommended parole ineligibility for a term of 20 years given the “reprehensible nature of Baig’s offence”. Prosecutor George Hendry stated in his submissions to the court:
In making this submission the Crown is recognizing this is above the sentencing range for domestic homicides. The nature and circumstances surrounding the commission of this offence elevate that range.
On the other hand, Baig’s lawyer argued for a 12 to 15 year term for parole eligibility.
Superior Court Justice Jocelyn Speyer sentenced Baig to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 17 years.
FETAL HOMICIDE AND THE LAW
Under the Criminal Code (section 223(1)), a fetus becomes a human being when it has “completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother”.
Given this definition, an unborn child cannot be the victim of a homicide and has no legal recourse. In order to be charged with the murder of an infant, the child has to be born alive first, and then die. Therefore, Baig was not charged or prosecuted for the death of his unborn daughter, who was to be named Asaara.
In accordance with the law, Justice Speyer sentenced Baig for the murder of Goberdhan only. Goberdhan’s friends and family were not satisfied with the court’s decision on sentencing Baig. They filled the courtroom and wore shirts with Goberhan’s image and the name of a new campaign entitled the “Phenomenal Women Project” aimed to establish new law that holds those who kill pregnant women accountable for the deaths of both the mother and child.
Goberdhan’s parents are petitioning for legislative changes. They call the petition “Arianna’s Law”. They are asking the government to “pass legislation that recognizes that, when an assailant in a commission of a crime attacks a pregnant woman and injures or kills her pre-born child, then the assailant may be charged with an offence on behalf of the pre-born child.”
Laws of this nature have been proposed in the past, but have all failed. The concern is that these types of laws will pave the way to criminalize abortion.
The Goberdhans argue that the “law has to be defined in such a way that it’s a violence against women crime. It has nothing to do …with pro-life or pro-choice. It’s specific to violence.” The proposed law is intended to deter abusive partners from harming pregnant women.
We will continue to follow any updates in the law regarding the murder of an unborn child in Canada and will report on developments in this blog.
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