In Video Call From Canada, Punjab Man Tells Mother He Killed His Wife

A Punjab man has been charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed his wife to death in Canada, officials said.

Balwinder Kaur, 41, was found inside her Abbotsford home in British Columbia with "life-threatening stab wounds", officials said on Sunday. Her husband, Jagpreet Singh, was arrested soon after.

The incident took place late on March 15.

"First responders attempted life-saving measures, but sadly, the woman died in hospital shortly thereafter," Canada's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a statement.

Jagpreet Singh was arrested the same night.

After the murder, Jagpreet Singh reportedly made a video call to his mother back home in Ludhiana and told her that he had killed his wife.

"After stabbing my sister to death, Jagpreet made a video call to his mother back home in Ludhiana and said 'I have put her to sleep forever'," Balwinder Kaur's sister told The Indian Express.

The couple argued frequently over finances as Jagpreet - who had joined his family in Canada just a week ago - was unemployed, she said.

They married in 2000 and had a daughter and a son, The Indian Express reported. Balwinder stayed with her daughter, who is studying in Canada.

Jagpreet's family, however, denied the allegations and said they were a "happy couple".

"We are still unclear about what exactly happened that night between my brother and his wife. He or our family never harassed Balwinder Kaur. They were a happy couple and had returned from shopping a few hours before the incident," Jagpreet's brother told The Indian Express.

"After the incident, my brother had called our mother to tell us that he injured his wife by mistake. He was asking for forgiveness. Nothing was intentional. No one knows the reason behind what happened that night as their daughter was also away," he added.