B.C. husband charged with murdering pregnant wife

The husband and the brother-in-law of Surrey teacher Manjit Panghali, whose badly burned body was foundin Delta, south of Vancouver,last October, have been charged in connection with her death.

The husband, Muktiar Panghali, 35,is charged with second-degree murder and interfering with a dead body, Delta police said.

His brother, Sukhvinder Panghali, 27 is charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact and improperly interfering with the body.

Sukhvinder is also charged with assaulting a police officer while trying toescape custody, said Delta police spokeswoman Const. Sharlene Brooks.

"He attempted to flee our facility while he was at the police headquarters. A physical altercation ensued and, as a result, one of our investigators was injured."

Brooks said the officer underwentsurgery Sunday night to repair "significant injuries" to his shoulder.

The Panghali brothers were arrested Friday.

The charred body of the popular 30-year-old Grade 1 teacher was discovered at the Roberts Bank container terminal in Delta almost a week after she disappeared on her way to a prenatal class on Oct. 18. She was four months pregnant and had a three-year-old daughter.

Her disappearance triggered a widespread search, andMuktiar Panghali and other members of the family made an emotional appeal for public assistance in finding her.

Panghali told reporters that he held off calling police for 26 hours after his wife's disappearance so he could contact friends and family membersand make sure she wasn't with them.

Manjit Panghali's older sister told reporters the arrests were a "bittersweet moment,"as Monday would have been the baby's due date.

"We should be in the hospital right now, welcoming the newest member of our family," said Jasmin Bhambra, who said the family has been living a nightmare since her sister's death.

"We now must persevere on this most difficult journey and trust that justice will prevail for the sake of our sister and our family."

Police said they don't anticipate any other arrests.