Amsel conceded legal battle prior to attempted murder charges against wife, former lawyer

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This article was published 07/07/2015 (3977 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Guido Amsel suddenly surrendered in a messy five-year legal battle earlier this year, agreeing to pay his ex-wife more than $40,000 and withdrawing allegations she had stolen millions from him.

But the surprise concession — which came shortly after Amsel’s lawyer walked away citing a breakdown in their relationship — was allegedly no peace offering from the 49-year-old Amsel.

Instead, justice officials believe it was the beginning of something much more sinister.

Just months later, Amsel now sits in custody on attempted murder and explosives charges after a series of bombs concealed inside audio recorders were sent through Canada Post to key parties involved in the ongoing court dispute.

Maria Mitousis, the lawyer who took on Amsel on behalf of his ex-wife, suffered massive injuries after the package she opened Friday morning blew up at Petersen King law office on River Avenue.

Iris Amsel, the accused’s ex-wife, escaped tragedy when the package destined for her was intercepted by police Saturday night on Washington Avenue.

Sarah McEachern, the lawyer who stopped representing Amsel earlier this year, also avoided injury when police detonated a package inside her former law firm on Sunday evening at Orle Bargen Davidson on Stradbrook Avenue.

Despite more than 20 other suspicious package calls in the city since last Friday — and a warning from police that other mail bombs could potentially be in transit — no other explosives have been found.

The Free Press reviewed the contents of the Amsel’s civil file on Tuesday, which began in 2010 and remains before the courts. It shows how Guido and Iris agreed to dissolve their business partnership in 2008, five years after their marriage had fallen apart.

At first, it appeared to be a smooth break-up. Guido paid Iris $100,000 worth of shareholder loans she had in Euro-Tech Autobody on Springfield Road. He also wrote a promissory note for an additional $40,000 he owed her, and vowed to pay her an equal share of any assets that were sold from the business.

But that promissory note was never fulfilled, and Iris filed a civil law suit in 2010, asking a judge to order payment immediately.

“He has refused and/or neglected to pay,” her motion stated.

At the time of the filing, Guido and Iris were already five years into a divorce proceeding which had been amicable. But things turned nasty around this point as Guido suddenly accused Iris of stealing huge sums of money from their business. The claims were made in both the divorce file and the civil file through a statement of defence and counterclaim he filed against Iris.

“The plaintiff was wrongfully misappropriating and/or misdirecting cash and/or funds… for her own use and benefit,” Guido wrote in documents filed in 2011. He claimed some of the missing money had been sent by Iris to family members living in Germany.

Iris fired back with her own affidavit in early 2012, denying what she called “unfounded and untrue allegations of fraud and deceit.”

The case slowly proceeded through the system with no trial dates ever being set. Guido fired his first lawyer, then hired Sarah McEachern in 2013. But it’s clear things didn’t go well with her.

In September 2014, McEachern filed a motion against Guido seeking to withdraw. She cited “a breakdown of the relationship between the law firm… and Mr. Amsel.”

Guido was personally served with the motion, which was heard in court this past March 20. McEachern was formally off the case, and Guido was suddenly acting as his own lawyer.

The file took another twist during a March 30 pre-trial hearing before Queen’s Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg. On the other side of the legal table sat Maria Mitousis, on behalf of Iris.

Guido did a complete about-face, admitting wrongdoing and dropping his own counterclaim against his ex-wife. He promised to hold an immediate auction of 23 pieces of property, mostly old vehicles, and give Iris the 50 per cent she was owed. He also conceded that the $40,000 he had resisted paying her could be taken out of his half-share of the proceeds, plus interest.

Guido and Mitousis agreed to adjourn the case until September, where they were expected to return before a judge to finalize the matter. Mitousis said the only issue left to address, provided Guido followed the promises he’d made, were legal costs.

An online notice shows the auction was set to be heard this Saturday.

The ugly court battle was apparently over. But if the allegations now before the criminal courts are true, Guido Amsel wasn’t about to go away quietly.

He remains in custody without bail, facing 11 charges so far including attempted murder of Iris Amsel and Maria Mitousis. Further charges could be laid pending additional investigation. His next court appearance is set for Thursday.

Law firms beef up security

In light of the explosions and bomb threats, some legal firms are taking extra security precautions and developed new protocol for sorting packages.
 
“Packages are going to be isolated and we’re keeping a special watch out for packages that are unexpected. If lawyers are going to be expecting a package, we’re going to alert the receptionist (ahead of time),” said Jay Prober, a criminal defense lawyer with Prober Law Offices. “It really wasn’t at the forefront of anybody’s minds —any lawyers minds — until now.”
 
Sofia Mirza, president of the the Manitoba Bar Association, said the association was already planning a fall seminar about law firm safety prior to the bombings. The seminar will provide a “refresher” for lawyers and associates, she said.
 
“Any lawyer that’s been practising for a few years, you’ve come across somebody that’s threatening or… intimidating,” Mirza said. “We’re negotiators, we know how to diffuse situations. That’s part of what we do as lawyers… You never know what the hot button issue is going to be.”
 
Family and domestic law cases can be among the most emotionally-charged, Mirza and Prober agreed, with child custody, money and possessions often at stake. Lawyers in these cases often take extra precautions when it comes to volatile clients, Mirza said.
 
As for his new legal battle, Prober suggested Amsel look for representation from out-of-province.  Although police said they don’t believe the bombing attacks were an attack on the justice system, that’s exactly how Prober perceives them.
 
“I think he’s going to have trouble finding a lawyer in Manitoba to represent him,” Prober said. “Really it was an attack on the justice system in Manitoba. First and foremost, it was an attack on Maria and she’s the one that’s suffered the injuries… but it was an attack on the justice system.”

www.mikeoncrime.com

Jessica.Botelho-Urbanski@freepress.mb.ca