Entitled ‘Love or Family’, Investigation Discovery’s ‘Forbidden Love: Dying for Love’ Season 3 Episode 7 chronicles the horrific murder of 17-year-old Amandeep Atwal in 2003. The murdered British Columbia teenager was taken to hospital with multiple stab wounds and her death shocked the nation. Let’s find out exactly what happened to Amandeep and where her killer is today, okay?
How did Amandeep Atwal die?
Amandeep Atwal was a 17-year-old Sikh native of Kitimat, British Columbia. Her family originally belonged to Punjab, India, and had moved to Canada over twenty years ago. Amandeep was described by those around her as a very nice, helpful, charismatic and cheerful person. She loved her family and friends and dreamed of one day being successful and owning her own trademark. In addition, she was one of the top performers in her high school, working part-time as a waitress at a local coffee shop and restaurant.
Amandeep’s father Rajinder Atwal worked in an aluminum factory and was known as a reserved man who spoke less. Although he was quite indulgent towards his son Nawinder, he was quite strict with his daughter and watched her every move. While Amandeep’s brother was allowed to go out with people, she and her sister were not allowed to do so and they were expected to be in an arranged marriage. It is precisely for this reason that she decided to hide her relationship with boyfriend Todd McIsaac from her family. Amandeep and Todd were in the same biology class in high school and soon became attracted to each other.
After Todd asked Amandeep out, the couple had to take several steps to make sure her family didn’t find out, especially since he didn’t belong to the Sikh religion. Finally, in June 2003, her parents found out about her and Todd after the couple was involved in a car accident. After violent altercations with her parents, Amandeep decided to move to Prince George with Todd after graduation. However, her father Rajinder requested that she first accompany the family on a visit to relatives in Vancouver in July 2003, to which she agreed.
Sadly, Rajinder arrived at Langley Memorial Hospital on July 30, 2003 and stated that Amandeep had committed suicide with a kitchen knife in his car on the way back to Prince George. Hospital staff found she had succumbed and the autopsy found she had 11 stab wounds, with four fatalities, including punctures in both lungs, abdomen and throat. A wound was also discovered that cut open her face. Rajinder said at the hospital that the teen stabbed himself in the passenger seat while leaving the car at a rest area in Cache Creek, a three-hour drive north of the hospital.
Who killed Amandeep Atwal?
Although Rajinder Atwal had claimed that Amandeep had stabbed herself to death, her autopsy revealed otherwise. The pathologist later testified that some of the wounds on her body were inflicted after her death, especially the one that cut open her face. This shocking evidence was enough to prove that the teenager had not committed suicide, but had been brutally stabbed to death in the car by Rajinder, who was driving. So when he was arrested and brought to trial, harrowing details about his comparison to his daughter came to light.
Rajinder’s strict behavior with Amandeep had led to her and Todd doing everything they could to keep him from finding out about their relationship. From Todd discreetly visiting her while her parents were away, to using secret codes like “bacon and eggs” to say “I love you” while on the phone, the young teens went out of their way to help her family. to be left in the dark. In addition, they tried not to be seen by people from her community in the city. Although, they were quite open about their relationship in school, and even Todd’s father was aware and approved of the couple.
But things took a bad turn when Amandeep’s family put their house up for sale in February 2003 and decided to move to Surrey. This left her in a dilemma, because while she didn’t want to challenge her parents, she couldn’t leave Todd behind. After a few months of limited interaction, the couple skipped school on June 2, 2003 and drove to Terrace in her parents’ car. Due to excessive speed on the way back, they had a car accident and were rushed to hospital.
Meanwhile, Amandeep’s parents arrived there and finally discovered their daughter’s secret relationship. According to Todd, Amandeep shared that an enraged Rajinder had called her a disgrace and wished she and her lover had died. The dejected teen was further confronted by her parents, so she and Todd decided to move to Prince George together. She arrived at his house, but her mother followed her the next morning and a huge argument ensued.
Amandeep’s parents later somehow agreed to let her live with Todd, and the teens went to see Prince George for three days. But soon Rajinder went there and requested her to come to Vancouver with the family for a week. While the father and daughter were on their way back into the Fraser River Valley, he stabbed her to death in the passenger seat of his car several times, in a fit of rage. Rajinder was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison by the jury on March 4, 2005. In June 2005, he was given the option of parole after serving his sentence for 16 years.
Where is Rajinder Atwal today?
Rajinder Atwal is currently serving his life sentence in a prison in Canada. In December 2018, he received a six-month conditional summons, during which he could, under certain conditions, spend the day at home and return to his penitentiary at night. In June 2019, his parole was extended by the Parole Board of Canada. On July 24, 2019, the jury refused him full parole, arguing that his return to his home environment could pose a similar risk as before.
However, Rajinder has kept to his curfew and has not shown any disruptive behavior. Since his guilt has been proven, he has admitted how much pain his actions have caused his family and Amandeep’s loved ones.
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