A man’s girlfriend became enraged upon seeing a recent photo of him with his family, leading her to follow his wife in a car and eventually causing a fatal crash. The incident, which occurred on June 27 last year, has left Jonathan Baker’s family devastated and angry. In court, nine family and friends shared their heartbreak over the tragic loss.
Sharanjit Kaur, the girlfriend, had been in a relationship with the man, referred to as Mr. R, who was still married to his wife, Mrs. R. The tension between the two women escalated when Kaur saw a photo of Mr. R with his family, prompting her to confront Mrs. R at a school assembly. The confrontation led to a dangerous chase on the road, with Kaur driving recklessly and ultimately causing the fatal crash.
Baker, a respected Department of Corrections staff member, was killed in the crash, leaving his wife Andrea devastated. She expressed her grief and anger towards Kaur in court, struggling to come to terms with the loss of her husband. Kaur was sentenced to four years in jail for reckless driving causing Baker’s death, with the judge emphasizing the gravity of her actions and the impact on Baker’s loved ones.
Understanding the Conviction
It was clear that a conviction was inevitable for Ms. Kaur.
Insight into Kaur’s State of Mind
Singh took the opportunity to provide Baker’s family with more insight into her client’s actions, describing her as “deeply troubled”.
According to Singh, the photo that Kaur found on the day of the accident triggered a psychological collapse.
Years of mental health decline led to the offense, and this has been clinically explained, possibly indicating that Ms. Kaur’s behavior was more than just rage.
A clinical psychologist determined that Kaur’s driving was a result of a “convergence of chronic psychological deterioration”, with the argument before the crash serving as an “acute stressor”.
The specialist concluded that Kaur had reached a “psychological breaking point”.
While acknowledging White’s observation that Kaur’s behavior seemed illogical, Singh explained that Mr. R had consistently reassured Kaur that he no longer had any relationship with his wife.
He had also promised her that once she divorced her husband, he would divorce his wife.
“These assurances led Ms. Kaur to believe that Mr. R intended to stay with her and for them to have a committed relationship.
“The discovery of the photograph … shattered these assurances and brought to the forefront years of accumulated anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil that had been building for years.
“It was an eight-year-long relationship.”
Singh requested the judge to consider a home detention sentence for Kaur.
Judge Tompkins, after considering Dillon’s arguments and applying a 20% discount for her guilty plea, sentenced Kaur to four years in jail, starting from a five-year baseline.
