National
Harjit Singh Channa and Harpeet Kaur Channa said their grief for Gurshan "has been so bad, so deep, so beyond explanation" / The Herald Sun Source: Herald Sun
- Mum speaks of her love for dead toddler
- He still appears before our eyes, she says
- Family shocked accused someone they know
POLICE want to speak to a woman they believe helped Gurshan Singh Channa's accused killer when his car broke down.
Homicide squad detectives want to find the woman who is believed to have assisted Gursewak Dhillon somewhere in northern suburbs between noon and 3pm last Thursday.
Police said yesterday Mr Dhillon, 23, was allegedly driving a vehicle in the northern suburbs at the time when he ran out of fuel.
Gurshan is alleged to have been in the car’s boot that afternoon.
The woman is said to have helped a man in a dark green VT or VN Holden Commdore by driving him to a service station.
Mr Dhillon, 23, briefly faced court today. He did not apply for bail on a charge of manslaughter by criminal negligence.
Wearing a white polo shirt, Dhillon sat quietly in the prisoners dock during the appearance at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
Earlier, the mother of toddler Gurshan Singh Channa has told the Herald Sun how her "beautiful boy" still appears to her.
Heartbroken Harpreet Kaur Channa has spoken for the first time about her love for her three-year-old boy, who died last Thursday.
Police claim that the toddler was put in a car boot and dumped near Melbourne Airport.
"Our son was a beautiful boy and he was very loved and he is still in the front of our eyes," she wrote in a letter to the Herald Sun.
"Up to this point our grief has been so bad, so deep, so beyond explanation."
An Indian man who shared the same Melbourne house as Gurshan and his parents has been charged with manslaughter due to criminal negligence in connection with the toddler's death.
Gursewak Dhillon, 23, will appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
Gurshan's father, Harjit Singh Channa, said through a translator that he had spoken to Mr Dhillon on Sunday.
"There were no old frictions in the families," the translator said.
Mr Channa's cousin, Raman Deep Singh, said the family were shocked to hear that someone they knew had been charged.
"That is our friend. Not a close friend, but we knew the person," Mr Singh said. "It's a shock."
Family spokesman Tim Singh Laurence said they were glad there had been progress in the case.
"That's relieved the family somewhat, who were not just coping with the loss of a three-year-old, but were also coping with not knowing what had happened," Mr Laurence said.
"When it's relief, it's relief of another kind. And that's thanks to the Victoria Police acting in a very resolute manner and a very robust investigation."
Mr Laurence said the family were touched by support from all communities and faiths across Victoria.
"They're obviously focused clearly on recovering the body of their child as soon as they can," he said.
Police alleged in an out-of-session hearing on Sunday that Mr Dhillon had put an unconscious Gurshan in the boot of his car.
A housemate of Mr Dhillon's said he was upset by the allegations.
Ajay Pathania said he had known Mr Dhillon only a short time.
Mr Pathania said Mr Dhillon began living at the Lalor property about two years ago when he moved from India.
He said Mr Dhillon had previously worked some shifts as a taxi driver and played cricket with a friend in the local area on Sundays.
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