In a controversial legal development that has reignited community tensions, Nathaniel Veltman, the man convicted of killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ontario, has filed an appeal against his murder and terrorism convictions. Court documents reveal that Veltman is seeking to overturn the jury’s verdict that found him guilty of deliberately targeting the Afzaal family in June 2021 because of their Islamic faith.
The attack, which sent shockwaves throughout Canada and beyond, claimed the lives of Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna, and Salman’s 74-year-old mother, Talat. Only the couple’s nine-year-old son survived after being seriously injured when Veltman deliberately struck the family with his pickup truck while they were waiting to cross an intersection.
According to court filings obtained by CO24, Veltman’s legal team is challenging both the conviction and the classification of his actions as terrorism. The jury had determined that his actions constituted terrorist activity, making this case a landmark prosecution in Canadian legal history as one of the few instances where terrorism charges were successfully applied to ideologically motivated violent extremism against Muslims.
“This appeal process was anticipated, but it nonetheless reopens wounds for the Muslim community and for Londoners broadly,” said Munir Ahmed, a spokesperson for the London Muslim Mosque. “The evidence presented at trial was overwhelming and the jury’s decision was clear. The community continues to heal while supporting the surviving family member.”
During the 10-week trial that concluded in November 2023, the court heard disturbing evidence of Veltman’s white nationalist beliefs and anti-Muslim sentiments. Prosecutors presented a manifesto written by Veltman that outlined his extremist views and intention to inspire others to commit similar acts of violence against Muslims. His internet search history revealed extensive research on mass killings, white supremacist ideology, and local Muslim populations.
Defense lawyers had unsuccessfully argued that Veltman suffered from mental illness that impaired his judgment, but the jury rejected this position after deliberating for less than six hours. The speed of their decision reflected the strength of the prosecution’s case.
Legal experts observing the appeal process note the high bar for overturning jury convictions in Canada. “Appeals in such high-profile cases face significant scrutiny,” explained Catherine Morris, professor of law at the University of Western Ontario. “The appellant must demonstrate substantial legal errors in the trial process, not simply disagreement with the outcome.”
The attack prompted Canada to add two far-right groups to its list of terrorist entities and accelerated discussions about combating Islamophobia. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the attack as an act of terrorism at the time, and Parliament subsequently passed a motion to convene a national summit on Islamophobia.
For London’s Muslim community, which includes over 30,000 people, the appeal prolongs an already painful chapter. Community leaders have established support services for those affected by the ongoing legal proceedings, while continuing memorial projects honoring the Afzaal family.
As this case continues through the appeal process, a fundamental question emerges for Canadian society: how can the legal system balance the rights of the accused to due process while acknowledging the profound impact that prolonged proceedings have on communities traumatized by acts of hatred and violence?
