Store Clerk Found Not Guilty After Robbery Incident

A jury has decided that a store clerk is not guilty of aggravated assault against a robber in Peterborough, Ont., from more than two years ago.

After a full day of discussions, the Superior Court jury announced the unanimous verdict on Wednesday afternoon for 24-year-old Tejeshwar Kalia, who was an international student from India during the incident on January 5, 2024.

Surveillance footage shown throughout the weeklong trial revealed that around 2:30 a. m., a masked individual entered a downtown Circle K store holding what later turned out to be a baseball bat concealed in a plastic bag, along with a large knife on his belt. He took off the bag, waved the bat menacingly, and approached Kalia.

A struggle broke out as another customer attempted to intervene.

The video continues as they fight spills outside the store where the clerk gains control of the bat. The masked man seems to be leaving but Kalia hits him with the bat again and then strikes him once more after he falls while the customer tries to help. Kalia then dials 911.

Story continues below

In an unusual move, police charged both individuals involved. Chief Stuart Betts defended the charges brought against Kalia amidst some public outcry.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you’ll never miss the day’s top stories.

“This is not about politics – politics have nothing to do with the facts. This is not about race – as some have suggested,” he stated. “This is not about the perception that criminals go free while victims of crime are penalized – this is about the law.”

During court proceedings, jurors learned that Kalia suffered a concussion during their altercation.

The court also heard that Jonathan Handel, age 37, was identified as the robber who sustained serious head injuries. He was apprehended shortly after and later pleaded guilty to robbery with violence in that same year, receiving an 18-month prison sentence.

The trial examined whether Kalia went beyond what could be considered self-defense. Kalia’s lawyer, David O’Neill, highlighted concerns regarding the knife by arguing his client was aware of it and couldn’t calmly evaluate his danger level within those few chaotic seconds while injured from their encounter.

After hearing their decision, O’Neill remarked how this was an event that Kalia “had never asked for nor wanted to be part of” but expressed that his client felt “extremely happy” with how it turned out.

“He always maintained that he acted in self-defense; he responded appropriately to this threat against him,” O’Neill said. “And he’s always conveyed his belief things would work out well for him and today they did. It truly has been great for him.”

Story continues below

Kalia provided a victim impact statement during Handel’s trial in April 2024 and expressed gratitude towards both his supporters and justice system.

“I would like to thank all of my friends, my lawyer, my good friends on my side,” he said. “And they did well. And I would like to thank the jury. All those 12 jurors. Thanks for reviewing the video, giving their comments and all their hard work. I’d like to express my thanks individually over and over again.”

Now looking ahead after such an ordeal which drained “all his savings” in legal costs, he mentioned wanting to move forward positively.

“I want to focus on my future-making plans for jobs and gaining experience here in Canada while exploring everything it has to offer,” he said. “Before this experience held me back [s0] from moving elsewhere across provinces; now I can.”

& copy 2026 , a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Source link