‘Treated him like a piece of garbage’: 2 men face deportation after ‘knowingly’ dragging pedestrian under car

The actions of two men involved in a fatal hit-and-run are being described as “unimaginably cruel.”

Horrific details are emerging in court about a deadly hit-and-run in Surrey in which a man was trapped under a car and, according to the prosecution, knowingly dragged more than a kilometre after being struck.

The actions of Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh, who are now also facing deportation for their actions, are being described by the victim’s family as “unimaginably cruel.”

The pair has pleaded guilty to a number of offences, including failing to stop after an accident and interference with a dead body.

On Jan. 27, 2024, a 45-year-old father and husband – being identified only as “J.G.” at the family’s request – was lying on the road when he was struck by a Ford Mustang.

Provincial court in Surrey heard that Gaganpreet Singh was driving the car, which stopped briefly after the collision.

Gaganpreet Singh, along with a passenger, Jagdeep Singh, got out of the car.

During a 911 recording played in court, a witness calls out to the men: “There‘s a man underneath your car.”

Despite this, the vehicle speeds off, dragging J.G. for 1.3 kilometres and later stopping in a cul de sac.

That’s where the Singhs worked together to dislodge the victim.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, J.G.’s widow wrote: “They treated him like a piece of garbage, dumping him on the side of the road.”

“The nature of how he died was so violent,” she added. “He was so severely injured, we were not able to view his body.”

His widow described her late husband as a devoted father.

“He was there helping (his kids) to take their first steps. He took them to their first swimming lessons, skating lessons. He taught them their first Indigenous ancestral songs,” she wrote.

Charlie Gilhepsy, who called himself a long-time friend of the victim, sobbed in court.

He later told CTV News that it was tough to hear the details of what happened.

“(J.G.) was the most loving, kind man, one of the most I’ve known. And that’s God’s honest truth,” he said.

Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh, both 22, came to Canada on international student visas. Court heard they will face deportation hearings after sentencing.

Neither of them has a previous criminal record, and both have said they regret their actions.

“I’m very sorry. I say sorry to the victim’s family,” Ganganpreet Singh said through an interpreter.

“I’ve been under stress since this accident happened,” he said.

Crown is asking for prison time of four years for Jagdeep Singh and three for Gaganpreet Singh, in addition to three-year driving bans.