WARNING: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Inderdeep Singh Gosal, 34, faces a second-degree murder charge in the March 26, 2023, death of Paul Schmidt outside a Starbucks in downtown Vancouver. He entered a not guilty plea last month.
Defendant’s Account of Events
Gosal testified in B.C. Supreme Court that he had stopped taking his antipsychotic medication for about three months prior to the incident, leading to an argument with his father that day. “He was upset and concerned about me not taking medication,” Gosal stated.
After the dispute, Gosal took public transit downtown and paused in an alley to urinate, where he spotted a knife in good condition on a dumpster ledge. “People have been aggressive toward me, especially downtown and on transit, and I took it as a sign from God to protect myself,” he told the court. He pocketed the knife and headed to the Starbucks patio, where he smoked a cigar possibly laced with marijuana.
Gosal described how Schmidt swore at him from across the patio, escalating into a verbal exchange. “I was anxious that he might attack me,” Gosal said, noting relief when Schmidt initially walked away. However, Schmidt handed a child to a nearby woman and approached physically.
“I remember trying to push him away more than once,” Gosal recounted, calling the encounter a blur. He admitted grabbing the knife amid fears for his life. “I was afraid that I was going to die and I was trying to push him away multiple times and it wasn’t working so I ended up stabbing him,” he explained. “I needed to protect myself or else I was going to die.”
CCTV footage shown in court captured the confrontation turning physical, with Schmidt suffering six chest stab wounds and collapsing in a pool of blood. Gosal denied any intent to kill, stating he only learned the stab count during the trial. He entered the Starbucks afterward to call an ambulance and admitted the stabbing to first responders but later misled police about his alcohol intake and the knife’s origin to avoid arrest.
Mental Health Defense
Gosal’s lawyer, Gloria Ng, informed the court that her client experiences psychosis and schizophrenia and was unmedicated at the time. The defense aims to demonstrate through Gosal’s testimony and a psychiatrist’s input that he lacked intent to kill, though he meant to cause harm without grasping its lethal potential.
“The question the court has to answer is whether prosecutors have established, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mr. Gosal had the intent to kill Mr. Schmidt, reckless or not,” Ng argued. The defense seeks a manslaughter conviction over second-degree murder.
Gosal shared his 2014 diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and depression, triggered by hallucinations, delusions, and perceived omens like TV messages about death, crow sounds, and white clothing—symbols of death in South Asian culture. Post-arrest medication has improved his condition. “I feel much better, the symptoms are less and I feel there has been a big improvement over three years,” he said. “I can control myself now. I picture a stop sign that says stop and that helps.”
Gosal awaits cross-examination. Prosecutors emphasize intent as the core issue, seeking proof beyond reasonable doubt that Gosal foresaw death as a likely outcome of his actions.
