Police searching for suspect on land and water after woman killed in Montreal
Police continued searches Wednesday for the prime suspect in the killing of a woman in Montreal’s Park Extension neighbourhood.
A 32-year-old woman died in an apartment on Birnam Street near Saint-Roch Street on Monday. Neighbours say they heard screams coming from the home prior to the incident.
The victim’s husband, Navdeep Ghotra, 30, has been missing ever since.
Police began searches Tuesday in the waters around Rivière des Prairies on the north end of Montreal. A source told CTV News that the man’s car was found near the Lachapelle Bridge, spanning Rivière des Prairies between Montreal and Laval.
Officers say they “strongly believe” he jumped into the water, but are exploring other possibilities.
Ghotra allegedly called family members in India showing them video of the crime scene. His family in India then contacted local authorities who called Montreal police.
The couple had two children together. Neighbours say after Sunday’s killing, police were trying to find the couple’s daughter, who ran away. She was found a short time later.
Neighbour Tariq Chaudry lived below the family and said police searched his apartment looking for the girl.
"Police officers came about 4:30 but the other police officers came before six o'clock. They also came inside and checked up everything," he said.
Last May, Ghotra was released on bail with conditions after allegedly uttering threats against a woman. Court records show he was awaiting a trial date on Oct. 8 stemming from his arrest on May 19.
The building's concierge, Joseph Fernando, told CTV News the victim in Monday's killing had asked that the locks to her apartment be changed in April after a fight with her spouse.
“She said to him she’s going to call the police, so he left the house. So she was rushing me to change the lock,” he said.
A couple of days later, Fernando said the man was back in the building.
“He came inside the building and I said, ‘You’re not allowed to come inside the building because your wife doesn’t want to come in.’ The wife called me again and said, ‘No I want to take back my husband.’”
SUPPORT NETWORK
Victims of domestic violence can contact SOS violence conjugale at 1-800-363-9010.
Other resources:
- Federation des Maisons d'Hebergement pour Femmes
- Shield of Athena
- Espace Sans Violence
- Regroupement des Maisons Pour Femmes Victimes de Violence Conjugale
- Centre de Solidarite Lesbienne
- With files from CTV News Montreal's Matt Grillo and Iman Kassam
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.