Ex-boyfriend of slain actress charged with assault

The former boyfriend of Maple Batalia, the19-year-old aspiring model and actress who wasshot dead in Surrey on Sept. 28,has beencharged withassault.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Drew Grainger said Gurjinder Dhaliwal, 19, turned himself inat Surrey provincial court Monday morning.

Dhaliwalis facing two counts of assault on two people in connection with an altercation on Sept. 24.

Grainger would not say whether one of the victims was Batalia, who was gunned down in a Surrey Simon Fraser University campus parkade, saying only thatboth assault victims were 19 years old.

"It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the identities of the victims in the assault thatMr. Dhaliwalis currently facing charges on."

Theassaults allegedlytook place ata Tim Hortons restaurantat King George Highway and 96th Avenue at 4:45 a.m. PT.

"My understanding is that Mr. Dhaliwal engaged in a confrontation with these two other individuals ... which led to a pushing and shoving match and punches being exchanged with one of the individuals," Grainger said.

"After that violent altercation occurred,Mr. Dhaliwalfled from the scene."

Grainger said a Canada-wide warrant was issued for Dhaliwal's arrest following the incident.

"Charges were approved by Crown counsel, andMr. Dhaliwalwas wanted on those charges and he had turned himself in today [Monday] on those charges of assault."

Grainger saidDhaliwal has not appeared in court on the charges, but has been taken into police custody.

He saidDhaliwal is not known to police and has no prior criminal record.

No arrests have been made in connectionwith Batalia's death, but her familyalleges she was having problems with a jealous ex-boyfriend.