The decision to deny parole to Balbir Singh Lally, the man convicted of a 1993 eviction-related murder, was affirmed by the San Mateo County District Attorney over concerns for public safety. Lally, who was evicted from his home, responded by purchasing a firearm and killing the real estate broker responsible, and also attempting to kill the broker's son. In a post shared by the San Mateo County District Attorney, it was expressed that Lally still represents a danger to the public, an assertion supported by his poor behavior in prison.
In '93, Balbir Singh Lally was evicted. He bought a gun & executed the owner of the home & shot the owner's son, who survived. Sentenced to 45 yrs to life, yesterday he was denied parole, remaining a danger to the public if released & based on poor conduct in prison. pic.twitter.com/KlZvhLHGgu
— San Mateo County District Attorney (@SanMateoCoDA) August 14, 2025
At the age of 40, Lally was sentenced to 45 years to life after being convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder. It was initially declared that he would have the opportunity to seek parole after 30 years served. However, recent developments seem to hold off his chance to rejoin society permanently. Despite nearly three decades behind bars, the review board concluded to firmly keep him incarcerated, pointing to undisclosed but troubling conduct while incarcerated as justification.
SFGate detailed the events leading up to the tragic day in 1993, when Lally, having been evicted, escalated the situation catastrophically by shooting William J. Britton and his son, John Britton, within their Burlingame office. Lally's attorney, Laurence Jeffrey Lichter, indicated the family’s intention to appeal both the verdict and sentence, highlighting Lally's purported mental and emotional distress at the time of the crime.
"The court told him that his lack of remorse shows that he is still a danger to society," revealed Steve Wagstaffe, chief deputy district attorney, in response to Lally's sarcastic comment congratulating the court for what he termed "an unjust verdict." Lichter countered this narrative, asserting, as per SFGate, that Lally was "clearly mentally ill" when he committed the attacks and expressed concern over the availability and quality of treatment for Lally's issues within the prison system.
