Murder trial for ex-boyfriend in Elnaz Hajtamiri Wasaga Beach abduction begins in May
Mohamad Lilo, 38, has been behind bars for three years accused of first-degree murder in the kidnapping and homicide of Elnaz Hajtamiri.
Justice Michelle Fuerst confirmed to Lilo and lawyers in attendance during the virtual court appearance, the trial is expected to run for eight weeks beginning in mid-May in Barrie.
Hajtamiri has not been seen or heard from since the night of January 12, 2022 when loved ones told police she was forcibly taken from a Wasaga Beach by three men posing as police officers with a bogus warrant for her arrest. Police revealed Hajtamiri was dragged barefoot through the snow and loaded into a stolen Lexus SUV.
Police believe Lilo orchestrated the kidnapping of Hajtamiri after she broke up with him and would not take him back.
Over the course of a five-week aggravated assault jury trial that began in May, following severance of his charges, the Crown revealed Lilo hired several men to watch and abduct Hajtamiri.
Elnaz Hajtamiri
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 (Supplied)
An attempt to kidnap Hajtamiri occurred December 20, 2021 in her underground parking garage when two men waited for and tried to take her while recording the attack. The plan to grab Hajtamiri, after she was hit repeatedly with a frying pan, was thwarted by a passerby.
The attack sent Hajtamiri to hospital with a wound to her head and ultimately forced Hajtamiri into hiding with loved ones in Wasaga Beach at the request of York Regional police.
Three weeks later, she was gone.
The jury found Lilo guilty of aggravated assault last month. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for late October.
Following the conviction, Harshdeep Binner pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon, in a Newmarket courtroom for hitting Hajtamiri with the frying pan. His co-accused Riyasat Singh, whom the court heard recorded the abduction attempt, pleaded guilty following his arrest in 2022 and was deported according to police.
During Binner's plea, the court heard through an Agreed Statement of Facts read by the Crown, Lilo tracked Hajtamiri using GPS and private investigators and hired people to assault her.
Lilo, who is represented by defence lawyers Anthony Bryant and Stephanie Marcade, has been denied bail twice.
The allegations against Lilo have not been tested in court.
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