The Province 

A woman who lured, threatened and stabbed her daughter-in-law has been sentenced to

14 months in jail.

Her niece and daughter, who were also involved, were sentenced to 10 months yesterday in B.C. Supreme Court.

Surinder Toor, 52, her daughter, Parvinder Toor, 28, and her pregnant niece, Rajwansh Nijjar, 27, sat quietly as Madam Justice Kirsti Gill read her ruling. They showed no emotion and declined when asked if they had anything to say.

Gill said even though society wouldn't likely be at risk if they served their sentences under house arrest as suggested by their lawyer, jail was necessary to denounce the crime and deter others.

She noted the women were otherwise law-abiding citizens with community support but noted the crime was premeditated and planned.

"It is honestly difficult to understand how these three women came to the decision to pursue this conduct," she said.

She also noted Surinder and Parvinder, who court heard were suffering from emotional distress, "have already paid with their emotional health."

After sentencing, family members, some weeping, some looking stunned, declined to comment outside the courtroom.

Neither the victim, Reena Toor, 27, nor her husband, Paul Toor, were in court yesterday.

All three women were sentenced for the aggravated-assault charge. They were also sentenced to additional time, to be served concurrently, ranging from four to six months for the other convictions; Surinder and Parvinder for uttering death threats, and Surinder and Nijjar for committing assault with a weapon, a baseball bat.

Surinder was also sentenced for obstructing justice by threatening Reena if she reported the assault.

On Nov. 23, 2004, Surinder met Reena at a bus stop after work, and lured her to a parked car where the other two were waiting. Surinder tried to hit her with a bat and stabbed her in the stomach with a small knife as Nijjar held Reena's hair and Parvinder prevented her from leaving.

Reena testified that Toor family members put broken glass on her side of the couple's bed, switched her pills, poisoned her food and denied her access to the kitchen and laundry of the extended-family home.

Each of the women testified they liked Reena and there were only a few problems when they lived together.

Their lawyer is expected to appeal the sentence, which would allow them to apply for bail, meaning they would be released in a day or two.