CASE OF INTEREST

Date: August 15, 2003
Case: People v. David Leal and Harpal Ahluwalia – solicitation of murder
Contact: Joy Smiley, Felony Teams
(916) 874-6722

The Honorable Judge James Henke today sentenced David Leal today to 1 year in the county jail and 5 years probation for his involvement in soliciting the murder of two individuals in our local Punjabi Indian community. Harpal Ahluwalia solicited Mr. Leal to kill his wife and his brother in law. Leal acting on behalf of Ahluwalia, then solicited another individual to commit the murders. That individual contacted the Sacramento Police Department, who began an investigation that ultimately prevented the two murders.

The Sacramento Police Department arranged undercover meetings with the citizen informant and an undercover officer from the Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. During those audio and video taped meetings, Ahluwalia discussed with Leal and the informant the particulars of the murders including price and weapons they might use. Mr. Ahluwalia even provided a tour of the daily movements of his wife, showing the citizen informant, whom he believed to be the alleged “hit man”, the elementary school where Ahluwalia’s wife dropped off their two twin boys at school. Ahluwalia also provided a key to the apartment where his wife lived with the two boys. Ahluwalia had been separated from his wife for 2 months when he arranged the murders.

Mr. Leal plead guilty to two charges of solicitation for murder on the eve of trial. A Superior Court jury later convicted Ahluwalia of solicitation of the murders of his wife and brother in law. The Probation Department, in a pre-sentence report recommended 8 years state prison as did the prosecutor, Joy Smiley. “Leal faced up to 11 years in prison, and for this crime, mid-term state prison was appropriate. Ahluwalia also faces 11 years state prison and should get the maximum.” said Deputy District Attorney Joy Smiley. Sentencing for Mr. Ahluwalia is scheduled for 1:30 in Dept. 9 of the Sacramento Superior Court on August 22, 2003.

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