Convicted Human Smugglers in Manitoba Border Deaths Seek Acquittal or New Trial

Lawyers for Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel argue insufficient evidence and procedural errors in the case of a family who froze to death crossing into the U.S.

• Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel were convicted in November 2024 of human smuggling related to the 2022 deaths of an Indian family near the Canada-U.S. border.
• The family, including two young children, froze to death in Manitoba while attempting to cross into the U.S. during extreme winter conditions.
• Patel's lawyers claim there was no evidence proving he knew the individuals were crossing illegally or that he was involved in a smuggling conspiracy.
• Shand's defense argues he was an unsuspecting driver hired by Patel and cites late disclosure of key evidence by prosecutors as grounds for a new trial.
• Both men have filed motions in Minnesota's U.S. District Court seeking acquittal or new trials, with sentencing originally set for March 2025.

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