 Ripudaman Singh Malik is on trial along with Ajaib Singh Bagri |
Canadian prosecutors have begun final arguments in the trial of two Sikhs accused of bombing an Air India passenger jet almost 20 years ago. They described the act as one of "political terrorism" so deadly that it was difficult to comprehend.
Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri are accused of planting a pair of bombs on Air India jets in 1985.
One plane exploded over the Atlantic, killing 329 people. The second bomb killed two baggage handlers in Tokyo.
Prosecution lawyer Robert Wright said the guilt of the two men had been proven beyond reasonable doubt.
"This is, in our submission, a politically motivated and terrorist event... consistent only with a political and religious zealotry," he said.
Defence questions credibility
The case prosecutors presented in court is largely circumstantial, based mainly on testimony from people claiming either that the accused asked them to help plant the bombs or that they heard the suspects confess to the crime afterwards.
 The Air India flight 182 plunged into the Atlantic ocean near Ireland |
Both defendants deny the allegations outright. Last week defence lawyers attacked the credibility of a key witness and said at least one defendant had no motive.
Defence lawyer David Crossin said a woman witness might have testified against Mr Malik simply because she was a disgruntled employee.
The trial has been the longest and most expensive ever mounted in Canada.
The final arguments are expected to last several weeks.
There is no jury, so the judge alone will then have the task of sifting through thousands of pages of testimony and producing a verdict. That is expected some time next year.
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