Bhupinderpal Gill charged with 1st-degree murder of wife

The husband of homicide victim Jagtar Gill has been charged with first-degree murder today more than two months after her body was found in the home they shared.

Bhupinderpal Gill, 38, appeared briefly in court Monday in a courtroom packed with relatives and friends of the Gill family.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, by video.

• GurpreetRonald charged with first-degree murder
• Bloody metal bar found in south Ottawa, police seek help

Last week Bhupinderpal Gill showed up at the courthouse with his children to watch as Gurpreet Ronald, a neighbour he was close to and worked with at OC Transpo, was charged with first-degree murder in Jagtar Gill's death.

He was arrested on Sunday.

Ronald's next court appearance is also scheduled for Wednesday.

'The worst has happened' says brother-in-law

Jagtar Gill's family and friends within Ottawa's Sikh community were at the courthouse Monday for Bhupinderpal Gill's appearance, and many left the courtroom in tears.

Family and friends of Bhupinderpal and Jagtar say they've known of marital difficulties in the couple'srelationship for several months. Police sources also told CBC News the motive for the killing may have been a love triangle.

Kulwindher Sidhu, Jagtar Gill's brother-in-law, said "the worst has happened" for his family.

"I never expected, but after... they arrested Gurpreet, it was feeling like it was coming," said Sidhu.

The three children ofBhupinderpalandJagtarGill are staying with family, said Sidhu.

Family friend Sarabjit Bajwa said the killing of Jagtar Gill and the arrest of Bhupinderpal Gill has been hard for the family and community to understand.

"You really can't put it all together, the pieces are so apart... so now as police investigate and now we know all that is happening, let's put the pieces together," said Bajwa.

Bloody metal bar became new lead

Jagtar Gill, 43, was found dead by her husband and their 15-year-old daughter on Jan. 29 in the living room of their home at 174 Brambling Way.

That was one day after she had hernia surgery and it was also the day of her 17th wedding anniversary.

Police said they found a bloodstained metal bar in a wooded area on the west side of Cedarview Road, about 300 metres north of Cambrian Road.

Sources told CBC News police believe the bar a metal weightlifting bar was used to strike Jagtar Gill before she was stabbed.

Police had asked the public if anyone saw the bar thrown into the wooded area.

Both accused had been under surveillance

Police sources also told CBC News both Bhupinderpal Gill and Gurpreet Ronald had been under surveillance for several weeks.

Video footage from a grocery stores shows Gill and his daughter shopping for flowers and cake on the day Jagtar was killed.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Bhupinderpal Gill's lawyer Rob McGowan said his client was "calm" and understands the impact his arrest has had on the community. McGowan said his client intends to ask for bail.