That's All Right, Then

Now, that's inspiring.  It might indeed inspire copy-catters.  Assuming that individuals who might be attracted to subterfuges of that magnitude in the commission of horrendous crimes, having the faculties to plan a web of intrigue so simple yet so complex.  And assuming that they can read.

Ved Parkash Dhingra stabbed his wife to death seven years ago.  But he was deemed through expert testimony to have been insane at the time of the murder, according to an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling.

Normally, read the court's 17-page document setting out its decision, it is a "rule of public policy", that someone who murders may not share in the victim's estate.  Makes eminently good sense.  There should be nothing approximating a 'reward' for the taking of a human life.  But since that particular psychotic outbreak has been attributed to temporary insanity, why then...

Mr. Dhingra cannot be held legally responsible for the death of his wife whom he repeatedly stabbed and bludgeoned.  Kamlesh Dhingra lost her life to her husband's rage.  He was charged with second-degree murder, but a court found him not to be criminally responsible.  He had, evidently, suffered a schizoaffective disorder.

When the trial wrapped up, Mr. Dhingra proceeded to the logical next step, having evidently recovered his senses.  He applied for his wife's $51,000 life insurance policy.  After all, he has been deprived of his wife, and compensatory benefits, though they will never, ever make up for his loss, will diminish his grief somewhat, one assumes.

Their son, Paul Dhingra, appears not to approve.  Perhaps he knows and judges his father somewhat differently than the experts.  He had attempted to block the application submitted by his father to collect that $51,000.  And an Ontario Superior Court judge believed the son to be quite correct, and supported his contention that his father was not eligible under the circumstances to collect that insurance.

The Ontario Court of Appeal, in its wisdom, judged otherwise.