PHOENIX — Less than two weeks after a jury found Avtar Grewal guilty of first-degree murder, Grewal has spoken exclusively to ABC15 from behind bars.
From jail, Grewal called ABC15, maintaining he was not allowed to discuss everything he wanted to during the trial.
When asked about the jury finding him guilty of first-degree murder, he said the prosecutor "twisted my testimony."
He also placed some blame on his own attorneys.
"My lawyers, they were ineffective, they didn't do their job," Grewal said.
Grewal, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2011, was accused of killing Navneet Kaur in 2007. The two were in an arranged marriage but had a long-distance relationship. The prosecution says Kaur wanted a divorce, so Grewal traveled from Canada to her Ahwatukee home so they could talk about it.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez, who's known for leading the case against Jodi Arias, led this case as well. He says after Grewal killed Kaur, he wrote a note admitting to the murder. The defense says while there was a fight between the two, Kaur's death was not premeditated.
ABC15 asked Grewal how often he thinks about the day his wife died.
"Every day," he said. "Every moment."
ABC15 also asked if he regrets killing his wife, which he maintained during the trial wasn't planned, nor intentional, and was the result of a scuffle.
"Yeah, I do," he said.
Grewal says he often thinks back to what happened.
"I'm not a career criminal, I never got a driving ticket before," he said. "I wish I had died [and] she hadn't."
Grewal claims he turned down an offer of a second-degree plea deal roughly five years ago, only to be found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury.
"I sit in this jail for 8 years waiting for this trial, like I will testify, I will tell the truth" he said. "In trial I didn't get the opportunity."
Grewal was on the stand over the course of multiple days.
ABC15 asked Grewal what crime he thinks he might be guilty of regarding the death of his wife.
"It's not about crime, it's not about anything," he said. "It's about truth."
Grewal wouldn't discuss certain aspects of the case over the phone but maintained he has lots more to say in-person. Despite multiple requests, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has not facilitated an official interview between ABC15 and Grewal.
Grewal's sentencing is scheduled for August 23.
