Father arrested on suspicion of murder in death of little girl
Vancouver Sun
Friday, January 18, 2008
CREDIT: Bill Keay/Vancouver Sun
Police tape surrounds a home in 7800-block in North Delta where an infant girl was found dead this morning. A man at the scene has been arrested.DELTA, B.C. - A little girl has been found slain in her North Delta home and her father has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The victim was approximately 18-months-old, the youngest of three daughters in the family, said Surinder Johal, who lived in a basement suite in the home where the death occurred.
By 11 a.m. today, two hours after police received a 911 call, word of the killing had spread throughout the neighbourhood, drawing small groups of men and women to the crime scene.
Police tape stretched across 116 Street at both ends of the 7800 block, barring the public from approaching the house, a neat, white split-level home with a fenced backyard.
Delta police Const. Paul Eisenzimmer said the child, whom he described as a "toddler," was dead by the time officers arrived at 9 a.m.
An adult male in the house at 7888 116 St. was arrested, he said. Eisenzimmer described the suspect as a man in his 40s, adding "there is believed to be a family connection." He refused to provide more details.
Neighbours identified the suspect as Lakhwinder Singh Kahlon and the dead girl as his daughter, Rajwinder (Ravi) Kahlon.
Johal said she spoke with Kahlon's wife, Manjit, by telephone shortly after the child's death.
She and other neighbours said Lakhwinder Kahlon had worked in construction, but had not been working recently. He was known as a clean living man who did not drink or smoke.
Neighbours said the older girls are about nine- and 12-years-old, and are students at nearby McCloskey Elementary.
Residents of the neighbourhood were shocked by the death.
"It's scary, scary, scary," said Ashley Leslie, adding she did not know the family.
"It's freaky that it even happens this close to home," said Jennifer Lick.
"It's disgusting," she said when she learned the victim was a young child.
Police called the incident tragedy.
"This is an isolated incident. A young child is dead and a family has been torn apart,"
Eisenzimmer said in a news release.
"The Delta police department shares the grief of those who have suffered this loss."
Kahlon has worked as a drywaller and Manjit Kaur Kahlon worked as a seamstress, according to documents obtained from the land title office.
