Man who strangled pregnant wife and burned her body gets full parole after just 12 years

A Canadian man who strangled his pregnant wife, then set her body on fire to hide the evidence, has been granted full parole — meaning he will be freed, less than 20 years after killing two people.

Seventeen years ago, Mukhtiar Panghali killed his wife, Manjit Panghali. She was only 31 years old, and four months pregnant with their child. They also had a three-year-old daughter at the time of the murder. Evidence showed up that Panghali strangled his wife after she returned home from a prenatal yoga class.

Allegedly, the violence was in response to his disagreement with her over her parents moving out of their home. “You took this as an insult to your family and your authority,” court documents said. “File information indicates that the marriage included allegations of violence and abuse.”

Strangulation is a common method of homicide among those domestic abusers, and while it takes several minutes for the victim to die, is a deliberate method of killing. Pain takes time, intention, and physical effort. After the murder, Panghali worked hard to hide his crime. He drove his wife’s car to one location, burned her body on a remote beach in another, and then waited as long as he could to file a missing persons report.

He was arrested in 2007 and charged with second-degree murder; in 2011, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 15 years. But earlier this year, Panghali was granted day parole, years shy of the 15 years his sentence required; he was given four years credit for time-served pending his trial.

READ: Florida man who killed pregnant niece gets three life sentences: ‘That baby was a real person’

Ironically, in the parole board’s decision to grant him day parole, they acknowledged the heinous nature of his crime:

“Although no Victim Impact Statement was filed, your case management team (CMT) indicates that your actions have destroyed the lives of the victim’s family including your own daughter, destroyed your family, and shook an entire community. You cut off not only your husband’s life, but also the life of your unborn child. There is clear damage to the victim’s family including your own daughter and the grief and loss they will continue to endure.”

And a few months later, Panghali was granted full parole, even as more information continued to emerge. “Reports indicate that your marriage involved allegations of violence and abuse,” read the board’s letter to Panghali. “Your son asked for space in 2019, but you hope to reconnect in the future.”

they additional mentioned that there were several things about their decision, including fantasizing about killing his wife for months before carrying it out. “Severe injury criteria were met, and likely permanently affected the victim’s family and friends, including bystanders such as witnesses and first responders,” they wrote. “The impurity of the victim’s body indicates a significant disrespect in your actions.”

The board also acknowledged that Panghali had previously minimized and avoided responsibility for his crimes, but said he was now showing remorse. “You expressed regret for your actions, appeared future-oriented and outlined your short- and long-term goals for your future,” the board wrote. “Your goal is to be a good father to your daughter, regardless of whether she continues to have a relationship with you or not.”

Apparently, this was enough for the parole board to believe that Panghali did not pose an “undue risk” to society, and he was allowed full parole. Part of his parole conditions is not to engage in any intimate or romantic relationships, as those are high risk. He is also not allowed contact with his daughter, who is being raised by her maternal aunt. His wife’s family filed a civil suit against Panghali, and it was settled for $300,000 in 2014.