Gang-Linked B.C. Killer Granted Day Parole 22 Years After Murder Conviction
Convicted British Columbia killer Paul Khela has been granted day parole by the Parole Board of Canada, 22 years after his conviction for the first-degree murder of newlywed teacher Gary Sidhu. The decision comes 24 years after Sidhu was fatally shot outside his family's North Delta home in a brutal killing that shocked the community.
Details of the Crime and Conviction
Khela, now 48 years old, was convicted in 2004 for orchestrating the murder of Gary Sidhu on April 1, 2002. The court found that Khela had hired hitmen to carry out the killing as part of a violent feud that resulted in multiple deaths and disappearances between 2001 and 2002. According to parole board documents, Khela facilitated the murder by supplying weapons and arranging payment for the shooters, though he was not physically present during the actual shooting.
The Supreme Court of Canada noted evidence suggesting the murder was part of an ongoing blood feud, with Sidhu wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of his death, indicating he feared for his life. Sidhu was returning home with family members when three males shot him multiple times in front of his loved ones.
Parole Board Decision and Conditions
Parole Board members Ian Mackenzie and Matthew Burnett signed the ruling on March 4, though it was only released this month. In their decision, they noted that Khela presented as "articulate and intelligent" during hearings and answered questions "in a direct and apparently honest manner." The board found that Khela did not minimize his role in the crime or the severity of his criminal history.
Khela told the board he understands parole is a privilege, not a right, and acknowledged he has done "horrific stuff" in the past. He expressed remorse for hurting so many people and accepted responsibility for his actions.
Despite granting day parole, the board imposed strict conditions on Khela's release to a halfway house:
- He is prohibited from associating or communicating with anyone involved in criminal or gang activity
- He cannot possess more than one cellphone or SIM card
- He is forbidden from contacting any relatives of Gary Sidhu
Criminal Background and Gang Associations
The parole decision revealed that Khela had been "deeply entrenched in a criminal lifestyle for many years," which included violence, drug trade involvement, and gang-associated criminal activity. This contradicted Khela's claims to the board that he wasn't part of a gang.
Prior to the Sidhu murder, Khela was a known associate of infamous B.C. gangsters Bindy Johal and Bal Buttar. Johal was gunned down at a Vancouver nightclub in December 1998, while Buttar was left paralyzed and blind in an August 2001 shooting, dying from his injuries a decade later.
The board members stated they believe Khela is sincere in his expressed desire to continue on a path of positive change, but emphasized the need for strict supervision given his extensive criminal history and gang connections.
