Woman continues to fight for life (Updated)

April 15, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

A 32-year-old Aurora woman remains fighting for her life in hospital following a domestic assault Friday night.

The woman’s husband, 46-year-old Mohammed Mahdi, has been charged with attempted murder following the incident at a home on Lewis Honey Drive at Conover Avenue.

“She is still in critical condition at Sunnybrook Hospital and the hospital is doing everything that is necessary to keep her alive,” said Detective Bob Papineau of the York Regional Police’s Homicide Investigation Unit. “I’ll leave the definition of critical care up to the specialists.”

York Regional Police received a 911 call at 8.12 p.m. on Friday reporting a domestic situation at the home near Bayview and St. John’s Sideroad. Police arrived at the scene by 8.17 p.m.

The morning after the incident, Inspector Gary Miner said in a statement they found the victim unresponsive with signs of head trauma. She was first taken to Southlake Regional Health Centre before being transferred to Sunnybrook.

“We’re hoping against hope for her,” Inspector Miner told The Auroran. “We’re hoping the medical intervention takes hold, but [as for] the quality of life, we don’t know what is going to happen there.

“We responded to a 911 call from a male caller and there were interpreters needed. We got there very quickly but the situation was not a mystery once we got there. She needed immediate medical help, [Mahdi] was apprehended and has now been charged with her attempted murder.”

He was taken at the scene and transported to One District Headquarters in Newmarket where police say he was questioned and charged with one count of attempted murder. He was remanded into custody after a brief court appearance on Saturday morning and appeared once again before the courts Tuesday. Appearing with his Dari interpreter, Mr. Mahdi’s bail hearing was put off until Friday pending his application for legal aid.

“For the charges he is charged with, he is remanded until he can get bail, if he even qualifies for bail,” said Inspector Miner shortly after the incident.

He added it was hoped a clearer picture of the victim’s condition would emerge over the weekend to determine her chances of survival.

“If she deteriorates further and succumbs, then the charge will be upgraded,” he said.

Police have not released the victim’s name.

Victim Services of York Region have been called in to assist the family members with the crisis. The family, according to Detective Papineau, has asked for privacy on who else was in the home at the time of the incident.

The home where the attack took place was previously known to the police, having been called there for situations in the past, but they could not confirm whether the calls involved the same family as a different last name had been involved.

“[Previous calls were for] nothing insurmountable and nothing that would [seem to] say we would be coming back for something like this,” added Inspector Miner.
In the days following the attack, the home was sealed pending a search warrant. By Monday, the home had been opened for police to continue their investigations and by the afternoon searches were still taking place inside the dwelling for any evidence that will aid in their investigations.

Police ask anyone with information on the case to call the York Regional Police Homicide Unit at 1-866-846-5423 x. 6630, or leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), going online at www.1800222tips.com, or texting their tip to CRIMES (274637) starting with the word YORK.