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Indian-origin murder convict faces 45 years in jail

SILICON VALLEY: A 24-year-old Indian-origin man is facing 45 years in prison after being convicted of killing his former employer at his orchard in California state in May last year.

A jury convicted Bikkar Singh of second degree murder, a lesser charge than the first-degree verdict originally sought by prosecutors.

He will face at least 45 years in prison because of the weapon enhancements associated with the charges.

Bikkar was found guilty of murdering his boss, 64-year-old pistachio farmer Gian Singh Heer, in May 2006 at Heer’s orchard in Yolo County by shooting him three times with his own shotgun.

Bikkar worked and lived on the property.

Bikkar maintained throughout the trial that he shot Heer in self-defence after wrestling the gun away from his employer who was trying to shoot him following an argument between the two. — PTI

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