Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Judge Denies Bail To Guido Amsel, Winnipeg Man Accused Of Sending Letter Bombs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Sep, 2015 03:58 PM
    WINNIPEG — A man accused of sending letter bombs to his ex-wife and two lawyers was denied bail Wednesday, but he plans to appeal.
     
    Guido Amsel was ordered by provincial court Judge Heather Pullan to remain in custody pending his trial on charges that include three counts of attempted murder. The decision followed three days of evidence which cannot be reported due to a publication ban.
     
    Amsel's lawyer, Martin Glazer, said outside a Winnipeg courtroom that his client will appeal the bail ruling.
     
    "Obviously, he's not happy with the decision. He was hoping to get out today and go back to his family and to his work and, so, this is just Round 1. Round 2 is coming up. Stay tuned."
     
    Amsel, 49, was arrested in early July after bombs were sent to his former wife's workplace and the offices of lawyers who had represented Amsel and his wife in their divorce. Police said that in each case an explosive compound was inserted into a recording device.
     
    Two bombs were safely disposed of, but one exploded and severely injured lawyer Maria Mitousis. She lost a hand and suffered other injuries which will require long-term rehabilitation.
     
    Glazer has said his client did not commit the crime and should not have to sit in jail until a trial that could be two years away.
     
    "A case like this is sort of complicated and it takes time."
     
    Court documents show Guido Amsel and his ex-wife, Iris, went through a lengthy and bitter divorce in which Amsel accused her of stealing millions of dollars from an auto-body shop they jointly owned.
     
    Amsel has since remarried.
     
    The acrimony appeared to end in March of this year. A memorandum from a pre-trial conference says Amsel agreed that he owed his former wife $40,000 from the auto-body shop and promised to sell vehicles and equipment to get the money. 
     
    An auction was scheduled for July 11, eight days after the bomb exploded in Mitousis' office. The sale was postponed after the blast when the police investigation was launched.
     
    Mitousis is well-known in Winnipeg's legal community and Glazer said one challenge for upcoming legal proceedings is finding a judge who does not know her or the other alleged victims.
     
    "Even at the trial, we may need an out-of-province judge to hear the matter."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    SkyGreece Files For Protection After Halting Operations, Stranding Hundreds

    SkyGreece Files For Protection After Halting Operations, Stranding Hundreds
    MONTREAL — SkyGreece Airlines has filed for creditor protection in Canada, a week after halting operations and standing hundreds of passengers.

    SkyGreece Files For Protection After Halting Operations, Stranding Hundreds

    Police Officer's Role In Premier Paul Davis Ad Raises Questions Of Rights, Restrictions

    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The uproar this week over a police inspector's role in an online video endorsing the Newfoundland and Labrador premier is raising questions about rights and acceptable restrictions.

    Police Officer's Role In Premier Paul Davis Ad Raises Questions Of Rights, Restrictions

    Supreme Court Dismisses Chevron Appeal In Ecuador Environmental Damages Case

    Supreme Court Dismisses Chevron Appeal In Ecuador Environmental Damages Case
    The 7-0 ruling allows the case to proceed in Canada, but it makes no finding on the merits of the long-running legal saga that has played out in courtrooms across the Western Hemisphere.

    Supreme Court Dismisses Chevron Appeal In Ecuador Environmental Damages Case

    Photo Project With The New Yorker Magazine Features Residential School Survivors

    Photo Project With The New Yorker Magazine Features Residential School Survivors
    International photojournalist Daniella Zalcman has partnered with The New Yorker magazine to show her project on Canada's residential school survivors.

    Photo Project With The New Yorker Magazine Features Residential School Survivors

    Manitoba Government Adds Support Money For Syrian Refugees

    Premier Greg Selinger says an extra $40,000 is being given to settlement service providers in the province, so that they can accommodate hundreds more refugees in the coming months.

    Manitoba Government Adds Support Money For Syrian Refugees

    First Byelection Since NDP Victory In Alberta Goes To Wildrose Party

    First Byelection Since NDP Victory In Alberta Goes To Wildrose Party
    Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, a former Conservative MP under Harper, told party supporters to take a short breather before getting back to the campaign grind.

    First Byelection Since NDP Victory In Alberta Goes To Wildrose Party