Lawyers to argue legality of DNA sample in mail bomb case
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/09/2017 (3128 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
An accused mail bomber will be in court today, attempting to have DNA evidence that was seized during the investigation thrown out.
Lawyers for Guido Amsel question the legality of a blood sample that was taken from him while police were investigating the high-profile attempted murder case.
Amsel faces several counts of attempted murder after letter bombs were sent to his ex-wife and two Winnipeg law firms in July 2015. One of the bombs seriously injured lawyer Maria Mitousis, who had represented Amsel’s ex-wife in a divorce proceeding.
He is also charged in relation to an explosion at his ex-wife’s home in 2013.
Amsel’s defence lawyer, Saheel Zaman, had filed a notice of motion that will ask the court to consider whether a blood sample was illegally seized from Amsel for DNA-profiling purposes.
The issue is scheduled to be argued over two weeks, starting today, before Amsel’s provincial court trial is scheduled to begin in October.
Amsel, who was 49 at the time, was arrested more than two years ago after investigators identified him as a suspect in the mailing of three explosive packages — meant for Amsel’s ex-wife, his ex-wife’s lawyer and his own lawyer, police said at the time.
Mitousis lost her right hand in the blast and had to undergo extensive surgery after a package she opened inside her River Avenue law office exploded July 3, 2015. She was in her office with several co-workers nearby when she handled a package addressed to her that contained a bomb reportedly hidden inside a recording device.
Another package, allegedly meant for Amsel’s ex-wife, was delivered to a Winnipeg auto shop on Washington Avenue and later was detonated by police. A third explosive package, also safely detonated by police, was delivered to Amsel’s former lawyer’s office on Stradbrook Avenue.
The series of explosive packages mailed through Canada Post prompted police to encourage the public to be wary of suspicious mail and led to further investigation that eventually resulted in additional charges against Amsel, who has no criminal record.
Amsel was denied bail twice last year and remains in custody.