The boy who was the sole survivor of a truck attack that killed four members of his family in London, Ont., spoke at the sentencing hearing of the white nationalist who pleaded guilty to the murders. His statement moved many people in the courtroom to tears as he described his pain and loss.
A life-changing tragedy
On June 6, 2023, Fayez Afzaal, then nine years old, was out for a walk with his parents, Salman and Madiha, and his 15-year-old sister, Yumna, when they were struck by a pickup truck driven by Nathaniel Veltman. The truck mounted the curb and hit the family as they waited to cross the street at an intersection. Veltman then fled the scene and was arrested shortly after by the police.
The four victims died of their injuries, while Fayez was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He was the only one who survived the attack, which was motivated by Veltman’s hatred of Muslims. Veltman later admitted to planning and carrying out the attack, and pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
A brave statement
On Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, Fayez addressed the court via video link from his uncle’s home, where he now lives. He read a statement that he had written with the help of his therapist and his family. He said he wanted to tell the judge and the world how he felt about what happened to him and his family.
He said he missed his parents and his sister every day, and that he wished they were still alive. He said he felt lonely and sad without them, and that he had trouble sleeping at night. He said he had nightmares about the attack, and that he was afraid of trucks and loud noises. He said he had to go to the hospital many times for his injuries, and that he had to take medicine to cope with his pain and trauma.
He also said he had to change schools and make new friends, which was hard for him. He said he missed his old school, his old friends, and his old house. He said he had to learn new things, like how to cook and clean, and how to take care of himself. He said he had to grow up faster than he wanted to, and that he felt like he had lost his childhood.
He said he was angry at Veltman for killing his family and hurting him. He said he did not understand why Veltman did what he did, and that he did not forgive him. He said he wanted Veltman to go to jail for a long time, and that he hoped he would never hurt anyone else again. He said he wanted Veltman to know how much he had hurt him and his family, and how much he had changed his life.
He also said he was grateful for the support he had received from his relatives, his friends, his teachers, his doctors, his therapists, and his community. He said he was proud of being a Muslim and a Canadian, and that he wanted to live a good life and make his family proud. He said he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up, and that he wanted to help people who were sick or injured. He said he wanted to honor his family’s legacy of kindness and generosity, and that he wanted to make the world a better place.
He ended his statement by saying that he loved his family very much, and that he hoped they were in a peaceful place. He said he hoped to see them again one day, and that he would always remember them.
A powerful impact
Fayez’s statement had a powerful impact on the people who heard it. Many of them were in tears, including the judge, the lawyers, the police officers, the journalists, and the spectators. They applauded Fayez for his courage and his strength, and they expressed their sympathy and their admiration for him.
Veltman, who was also watching the video, showed no visible emotion. He did not look at Fayez, and he did not say anything. He remained silent and expressionless throughout the hearing, as he had done since his arrest.
The hearing will continue next week, when the judge will hear submissions from the Crown and the defence on the appropriate sentence for Veltman. He faces a mandatory life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years, but the Crown is seeking to have his parole eligibility periods stacked, which would mean he would not be able to apply for parole for 100 years.
