Two Indo-Canadians plead not guilty to murder charges

Two Indian-Canadians accused of slaying a 19-year-old compatriot with a samurai sword during a gang war have pleaded not guilty, according to a media report.
Amritpal Dhillon was charged with second-degree murder, and his accomplice Amritpaul Rakhra was charged with manslaughter for allegedly murdering Manraj Akalirai in East Vancouver on January 23, 2013.
They both pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday, The Province newspaper reported.
The prosecution laid out the details of the murder in the Vancouver court.
The prosecution said that Akalirai and his friend, who is also the witness in the case, were going out on the night of the incident and they saw many cars, including of Dhillon's, roaming in the area.

Akalrai and his friend were attacked by Dhillon and his accomplices with a hockey stick, a hammer and a pipe wrench.

Akalrai's friend fought back with a samurai sword, but dropped the sword after being attacked, the prosecution said.
The sword was then picked by Dhillon, who along with Rakhra attacked Akalrai.
The prosecution told the jury that Dhillon struck Akalirai with the samurai sword "to almost entirely sever the upper portion of the victim's head" while Rakhra used a golf club to beat him.
Police arrested the accused from the scene and took Akalrai to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, the jury was told.