Close X
Sunday, October 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

DNA match leads to conviction 22 years after B.C. sexual assault

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 May, 2024 11:12 AM
  • DNA match leads to conviction 22 years after B.C. sexual assault

Police in Metro Vancouver say a DNA match led to a man's arrest and conviction more than 22 years after he broke into a woman's home and sexually assaulted her. 

Richmond RCMP say Christopher Sharafi, also known as Mohammed Mendi Sharafi, was found guilty last October, and in April he was sentenced to five years in prison for the two offences dating back to December 2001.

The Mounties say the victim reported waking up to find a man standing in her room, and he then climbed into her bed and assaulted her as she tried to fight back.

They say in a statement that police collected and submitted DNA evidence for analysis, but the suspect remained unidentified until 2015, when the sample matched a known offender in the national DNA databank.

RCMP say Sharafi had been ordered to provide a DNA sample as part of a previous unrelated conviction and the Mounties' forensic laboratory confirmed the match.

They say Sharafi has now been found guilty of break and enter and sexual assault and sentenced to five years in prison for each offence, to be served concurrently.

MORE National ARTICLES

Vernon man charged in crash

Vernon man charged in crash
A 36-year-old Vernon man has been charged after a head-on collision on Highway 97 left two people dead. It happened in the early hours of August 5th near the Vernon Military Camp.  

Vernon man charged in crash

Homicide in New Westminster

Homicide in New Westminster
Homicide detectives have been called in to investigate after a man's body was found inside a home in New Westminster. Police say officers were sent to the home last night to carry out a well-being check.

Homicide in New Westminster

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Hot spell add to wildfire woes
The wildfire service is reporting about 375 fires around B.C., with about 11 recorded since midday Sunday and another 11 still ranked as fires of note, meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day
The inaugural sailings for a passenger ferry between downtown Vancouver and Nanaimo, B.C., were cancelled Monday because of a power outage. A statement on the Hullo ferry website says the loss of power to the berth and vessels affected the assessments of its systems and the safety and reliability of its operations.

Power outage for new B.C. ferry forces trip cancellations on first day

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool
The call comes as a heat wave blankets much of the province, raising memories of the deadly 2021 heat dome event. It isn't expected to get as hot this week, but the advocates say municipalities need to ensure that tenants don't face deadly risks of overheating in their homes.    

As B.C. temperatures soar, advocates call for rules to keep rental housing cool

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals
Experts say the national housing crisis is becoming a political threat for the Liberal government, with voters likely to look elsewhere if drastic action isn't taken soon. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under heat recently for saying the federal government wasn't primarily responsible for housing, though it can and will help with the crisis.

Housing crisis deemed a political threat for Liberals