A Toronto neurosurgeon accused of killing his physician wife has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in her death.
Mohammed Shamji had been charged with first-degree murder in the 2016 death of Elana Fric-Shamji, his wife of 12 years and the mother of his three children.
He entered his guilty plea at a Toronto courthouse this morning, days before his trial was set to begin.
BREAKING: Shamji pleads guilty to second-degree murder. Court is adjourned to May 8th. Several family members quietly wiping tears as Shamji is taken away in cuffs. https://t.co/uGWyYY6VvX
— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) April 8, 2019
Dr. Elana Fric-Shamji's body was discovered in Kleinberg, Ont. in December 2016.
Fric-Shamji, a family doctor at Scarborough and Rouge Hospital, was last seen Nov. 30, 2016.
Her mother contacted police to report her missing and Fric-Shamji's beaten body was found in a suitcase by the side of a road north of Toronto the following day.
Court also heard how Shamji, after dumping the body, continued his normal routine. He was even in the process of pointing the finger at her lover in an attempt to cover up his tracks, after confirming she was having an affair and trying to continue with the divorce.
— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) April 8, 2019
Shamji, who worked at Toronto Western Hospital and was a faculty member at the University of Toronto, was arrested a day later.
Police have said an investigation revealed Fric-Shamji died of strangulation and blunt force trauma.
Fric-Shamji's death sparked an outpouring of grief and disbelief from those who knew her. She was described as a talented professional who helped improve the health-care system.
Horrific from statement of facts: "Their 11-year-old daughter was awakened from her sleep by sounds of her parents arguing int he next room. She heard banging, her mom scream, then silence"
— Lucas Meyer (@meyer_lucas) April 8, 2019
Fric's mother Ana, "justice will never be for us, never...she will never come back.