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
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.