Man at centre of Elnaz Hajtamiri murder case seeks another chance at bail
The man at the centre of the Elnaz Hajtamiri abduction and murder investigation wants another chance at bail after having spent the last two years behind bars.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Mohamad Lilo, 37, is accused of being the mastermind in the disappearance and presumed death of Hajtamiri, who was last seen by loved ones when police say she was forcibly removed from a Wasaga Beach home in January 2022 and thrown into an SUV Lexus.
He is facing a first-degree murder charge.
While Lilo was not in attendance Thursday at the Barrie courthouse, his parents were ahead of his scheduled bail hearing, however, the court heard that a previously scheduled Arabic interpreter also failed to attend the proceedings. With no translator present, Lilo's parents left the courthouse.
Lilo was arrested in Quebec in July 2022 and charged with the attempted kidnapping and attempted murder of Hajtamiri, who police say was taken by three men posing as police officers claiming to have a warrant for her arrest.
Police say the Richmond Hill woman, who would now be 40, is presumed dead. They also confirmed Lilo ran a shipping container business.
About a dozen people have been charged in the case, including men accused of trying to abduct Hajtamiri in her Richmond Hill parking garage and hitting her in the head with a frying pan just weeks before she vanished.
Elnaz Hajtamiri suffered a head wound requiring roughly 40 stitches after an assault in a parking garage in Richmond Hill, Ont., on Dec. 20, 2021 (Photo Courtesy: Hajtamiri family member)
Hajtamiri's family said she went into hiding with loved ones in Wasaga Beach following the Richmond Hill assault, adding her vehicle was found to have tracking devices on it.
Police believe Lilo was behind that failed abduction attempt in December 2021 and her disappearance the following month. He was also charged with criminal harassment nine days after Hajtamiri's alleged abduction.
Lilo was denied bail weeks after his arrest on the kidnapping and attempted murder allegations. He maintains his innocence.
His lawyers, Anthony Bryant and Stephanie Marcade, did not offer comment on the case.
Lilo's hearing is rescheduled to begin in early September.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It's the government's latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
Search for suspect in Kentucky highway shooting ends with discovery of body believed to be his
Authorities say they believe the body of a man suspected of shooting and wounding five people on a Kentucky interstate highway has been found.
Here's why you should get all your vaccines as soon as possible
With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
Exploding electronic devices kill 20, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 20 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000.
'It starts off innocent': Manitoba man loses $185,000 to crypto-romance scam
A Manitoba man is warning others after he fell victim to an elaborate online scam over the summer.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.