A month on, family of teen shot at Bar Beach car park call for justice

The Advertiser

26-05-2025

It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to.
With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23.
"We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said.
A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles.
People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said.
"It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said.
"We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said.
"But we have hope for justice."
He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible.
"Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said.
"We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams."
Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant.
Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene.
Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English.
She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home.
"This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said.
Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds.
"We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said.
"We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime."
Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night.
He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead.
The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail.
His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16.
Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation.
He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time.
"I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said.
State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm.
"She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said.
"It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said.
It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to.
With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23.
"We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said.
A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles.
People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said.
"It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said.
"We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said.
"But we have hope for justice."
He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible.
"Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said.
"We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams."
Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant.
Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene.
Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English.
She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home.
"This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said.
Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds.
"We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said.
"We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime."
Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night.
He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead.
The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail.
His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16.
Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation.
He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time.
"I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said.
State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm.
"She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said.
"It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said.
It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to.
With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23.
"We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said.
A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles.
People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said.
"It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said.
"We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said.
"But we have hope for justice."
He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible.
"Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said.
"We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams."
Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant.
Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene.
Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English.
She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home.
"This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said.
Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds.
"We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said.
"We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime."
Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night.
He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead.
The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail.
His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16.
Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation.
He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time.
"I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said.
State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm.
"She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said.
"It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said.
It's been a month since the Sahni family lost their son in a way no parent should ever have to.
With wet eyes, Jasmeen Kaur Sahni and Amrinder Singh Sahni held onto one another as they called for justice for their 18-year-old son Ekampreet Singh Sahni, who was shot at Bar Beach car park on the night of April 23.
"We just want justice as soon as possible," Mr Sahni said.
A crowd gathered on Sunday, May 25, afternoon where Ekam died, all holding signs reading "justice for Ekam" and battery-operated candles.
People came from far and wide, and from all walks of life to remember the young man, family friend Sukhjit Singh said.
"It's almost been a month now that our charming boy has been gone forever, and after a month we're still trying to find the reasons," Mr Singh said.
"We're still trying to get answers but we don't have any yet," he said.
"But we have hope for justice."
He said while he knew the pain of their son's death would be with the family for a long time, he hoped they would have answers as soon as possible.
"Let's keep Ekam's memory alive," he said.
"We don't want this to be forgotten that Ekam lost his life at such a young age, 18 years is the age when people share their dreams."
Ekam's father, Mr Sahni previously told the Newcastle Herald that his son was an "intelligent" young man who worked hard at his job at Harris Farm, helping his parents, taking his younger brother to and from school and looking after him while his mother worked at a restaurant.
Police allege Ekam was shot in the torso by a person a complete stranger to him. He died at the scene.
Mr Singh translated Ekam's grandmother Manmohan Kaur Sahni Ekam words at the vigil into English.
She said her grandson had left the house at 10.15pm that night to say he was going to his friends but he never returned home.
"This is the spot where Ekam lost his life, without any reason, without knowing the guy who killed him," she said.
Family friend Ravinder Kalara said the family had gone through so much over the past month and she couldn't imagine what was going through their minds.
"We can feel just 1 per cent of the pain they are going through," she said.
"We are all here to show our solidarity against the crime."
Investigators have been told that 22-year-old Windale man Decklen Deaves-Thornton was drawn in by two groups of people fighting in the car park late at night.
He was accused of repeatedly jabbing the gun into Ekam's chest before the weapon discharged and he was shot dead.
The 22-year-old handed himself in to detectives on April 25 and was later charged with murder and faced Paramatta Bail Court on April 26. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail.
His matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on June 16.
Brendan Tobin, a friend of the Sahni family, said they had met with detectives who had assured the family that they were completing a full investigation.
He hoped that the matter could be resolved before 18 months time.
"I didn't have the opportunity to know Ekam but I feel his spirit through this family and his younger brother, and through this community. It's a terrible tragedy," he said.
State member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp attended the late weekend vigil and spoke about how his daughter worked with Ekam at Harris Farm.
"She said he was an absolutely lovely young man," he said.
"It is absolutely heartbreaking to be here to fight for justice," he said.