Ajmer was a mathematics teacher at Skyline High School in Oakland, California. He was also a Union Activist and served as Treasurer and Chief Negotiator for the Oakland Teachers Association (OEA). He was also a well-known leader in the Sikh community and secretary at the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in El Sobrante, California.
On the afternoon of January 23, 2000, around 1:45pm just before services were to end, Ajmer was shot and killed in front of the congregation by 30 year-old Joga Singh Sandher, a limousine driver in the Union City area. Sandher told police he was incensed by Ajmer Malhi's refusal to let him address the congregation and felt it was his religious duty to correct this wrongdoing. Allegedly earlier that morning Sandher approached Malhi to give him time for addressing the congregation and tell them how he had come to re-embrace Sikhism after his father's death.
Malhi denied him that opportunity on being granted permission to speak due to time constraints. Sandher however felt Malhi was lying and became enraged. After their conversation, Sandher left the temple to retrieve an assault rifle from the trunk of his limousine. When he came back inside the temple he began shooting. Malhi tried to escape by running around a ceremonial stage inside the prayer hall, but Sandher chased him down and fired a round into his head, killing him, authorities said. A 38 year-old worshipper was also shot in the leg, but the injuries were not life threatening.
A Contra Costa County judge ruled on October 2nd 2001 that Joga Singh Sandher was not mentally disabled when he shot and killed Ajmer Singh Malhi. During the murder trial, witnesses told the judge that Sandher had become emotionally unstable after his father died in November 1999. A psychiatrist testified that he suffered from a delusional disorder. Sandher, who up until that point had visited temples infrequently, became obsessed with Sikhism, witnesses said. Prosecutor Tom O'Connor said Sandher's erratic behavior could at least in part be attributed to his use of alcohol and methamphetamine.
There was speculation that Malhi denied Sandher's request because Sandher once sounded incoherent and unfocused during a speech when he was previously allowed to address the congregation. There was also speculation that Malhi was targeted because he was a supporter of the Khalistan movement (a movement started in the 1970's to create a Sikh state in India known as Khalistan) and his murder was connected with clashes between fundamentalists and moderates.
Sandher was convicted of 1st degree murder Sep 25th 2001. On November 9th 2001, he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 50 years.
Ironically, Ajmer Malhi, a peaceful man by many accounts, was friends with Balbir Singh Sodhi, another notable member of the Sikh community that was violently murdered in retaliation for the September 11th terrorist attacks.
On the afternoon of January 23, 2000, around 1:45pm just before services were to end, Ajmer was shot and killed in front of the congregation by 30 year-old Joga Singh Sandher, a limousine driver in the Union City area. Sandher told police he was incensed by Ajmer Malhi's refusal to let him address the congregation and felt it was his religious duty to correct this wrongdoing. Allegedly earlier that morning Sandher approached Malhi to give him time for addressing the congregation and tell them how he had come to re-embrace Sikhism after his father's death.
Malhi denied him that opportunity on being granted permission to speak due to time constraints. Sandher however felt Malhi was lying and became enraged. After their conversation, Sandher left the temple to retrieve an assault rifle from the trunk of his limousine. When he came back inside the temple he began shooting. Malhi tried to escape by running around a ceremonial stage inside the prayer hall, but Sandher chased him down and fired a round into his head, killing him, authorities said. A 38 year-old worshipper was also shot in the leg, but the injuries were not life threatening.
A Contra Costa County judge ruled on October 2nd 2001 that Joga Singh Sandher was not mentally disabled when he shot and killed Ajmer Singh Malhi. During the murder trial, witnesses told the judge that Sandher had become emotionally unstable after his father died in November 1999. A psychiatrist testified that he suffered from a delusional disorder. Sandher, who up until that point had visited temples infrequently, became obsessed with Sikhism, witnesses said. Prosecutor Tom O'Connor said Sandher's erratic behavior could at least in part be attributed to his use of alcohol and methamphetamine.
There was speculation that Malhi denied Sandher's request because Sandher once sounded incoherent and unfocused during a speech when he was previously allowed to address the congregation. There was also speculation that Malhi was targeted because he was a supporter of the Khalistan movement (a movement started in the 1970's to create a Sikh state in India known as Khalistan) and his murder was connected with clashes between fundamentalists and moderates.
Sandher was convicted of 1st degree murder Sep 25th 2001. On November 9th 2001, he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 50 years.
Ironically, Ajmer Malhi, a peaceful man by many accounts, was friends with Balbir Singh Sodhi, another notable member of the Sikh community that was violently murdered in retaliation for the September 11th terrorist attacks.
Ajmer was a mathematics teacher at Skyline High School in Oakland, California. He was also a Union Activist and served as Treasurer and Chief Negotiator for the Oakland Teachers Association (OEA). He was also a well-known leader in the Sikh community and secretary at the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in El Sobrante, California.
On the afternoon of January 23, 2000, around 1:45pm just before services were to end, Ajmer was shot and killed in front of the congregation by 30 year-old Joga Singh Sandher, a limousine driver in the Union City area. Sandher told police he was incensed by Ajmer Malhi's refusal to let him address the congregation and felt it was his religious duty to correct this wrongdoing. Allegedly earlier that morning Sandher approached Malhi to give him time for addressing the congregation and tell them how he had come to re-embrace Sikhism after his father's death.
Malhi denied him that opportunity on being granted permission to speak due to time constraints. Sandher however felt Malhi was lying and became enraged. After their conversation, Sandher left the temple to retrieve an assault rifle from the trunk of his limousine. When he came back inside the temple he began shooting. Malhi tried to escape by running around a ceremonial stage inside the prayer hall, but Sandher chased him down and fired a round into his head, killing him, authorities said. A 38 year-old worshipper was also shot in the leg, but the injuries were not life threatening.
A Contra Costa County judge ruled on October 2nd 2001 that Joga Singh Sandher was not mentally disabled when he shot and killed Ajmer Singh Malhi. During the murder trial, witnesses told the judge that Sandher had become emotionally unstable after his father died in November 1999. A psychiatrist testified that he suffered from a delusional disorder. Sandher, who up until that point had visited temples infrequently, became obsessed with Sikhism, witnesses said. Prosecutor Tom O'Connor said Sandher's erratic behavior could at least in part be attributed to his use of alcohol and methamphetamine.
There was speculation that Malhi denied Sandher's request because Sandher once sounded incoherent and unfocused during a speech when he was previously allowed to address the congregation. There was also speculation that Malhi was targeted because he was a supporter of the Khalistan movement (a movement started in the 1970's to create a Sikh state in India known as Khalistan) and his murder was connected with clashes between fundamentalists and moderates.
Sandher was convicted of 1st degree murder Sep 25th 2001. On November 9th 2001, he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 50 years.
Ironically, Ajmer Malhi, a peaceful man by many accounts, was friends with Balbir Singh Sodhi, another notable member of the Sikh community that was violently murdered in retaliation for the September 11th terrorist attacks.
On the afternoon of January 23, 2000, around 1:45pm just before services were to end, Ajmer was shot and killed in front of the congregation by 30 year-old Joga Singh Sandher, a limousine driver in the Union City area. Sandher told police he was incensed by Ajmer Malhi's refusal to let him address the congregation and felt it was his religious duty to correct this wrongdoing. Allegedly earlier that morning Sandher approached Malhi to give him time for addressing the congregation and tell them how he had come to re-embrace Sikhism after his father's death.
Malhi denied him that opportunity on being granted permission to speak due to time constraints. Sandher however felt Malhi was lying and became enraged. After their conversation, Sandher left the temple to retrieve an assault rifle from the trunk of his limousine. When he came back inside the temple he began shooting. Malhi tried to escape by running around a ceremonial stage inside the prayer hall, but Sandher chased him down and fired a round into his head, killing him, authorities said. A 38 year-old worshipper was also shot in the leg, but the injuries were not life threatening.
A Contra Costa County judge ruled on October 2nd 2001 that Joga Singh Sandher was not mentally disabled when he shot and killed Ajmer Singh Malhi. During the murder trial, witnesses told the judge that Sandher had become emotionally unstable after his father died in November 1999. A psychiatrist testified that he suffered from a delusional disorder. Sandher, who up until that point had visited temples infrequently, became obsessed with Sikhism, witnesses said. Prosecutor Tom O'Connor said Sandher's erratic behavior could at least in part be attributed to his use of alcohol and methamphetamine.
There was speculation that Malhi denied Sandher's request because Sandher once sounded incoherent and unfocused during a speech when he was previously allowed to address the congregation. There was also speculation that Malhi was targeted because he was a supporter of the Khalistan movement (a movement started in the 1970's to create a Sikh state in India known as Khalistan) and his murder was connected with clashes between fundamentalists and moderates.
Sandher was convicted of 1st degree murder Sep 25th 2001. On November 9th 2001, he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 50 years.
Ironically, Ajmer Malhi, a peaceful man by many accounts, was friends with Balbir Singh Sodhi, another notable member of the Sikh community that was violently murdered in retaliation for the September 11th terrorist attacks.
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