Monday, November 8, 2010

Makhniashvili held over in stabbing

SHARON KO/TOWN CRIER
DEFENCE LAWYER Calvin Barry spoke to reporters after Vakhtang Makhniashvili's Nov. 5 court appearance.

Suspect will remain in jail until his next court appearance
By Sharon Ko
November 5, 2010

Vakhtang Makhniashvili, who was arrested and charged in conjunction with a double stabbing on Nov. 4, has been held over pending a Nov. 10 hearing.

According to police David, 45, and Delores Langer, 51, were stabbed in front of their home near Greenwood Avenue and Queen Street East. Both victims sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. Police say that David was stabbed in the abdomen and required surgery while Delores was slashed on the arm.

As of 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 Delores had been released from hospital, while David is still recovering from surgery.

Defence lawyer Calvin Barry said that he had no idea about what might have led to Makhniashvili allegedly attacking the couple.

"Police are still investigating and trying to get a copy of the 911 call," he told reporters after the Nov. 5 hearing. "I want to get some more information from the detectives at 55 Division and try to assess where we're at, what exactly happened and how it happened.

"It looked like it happened very quickly."

Makhniashvili is the father of missing teen Mariam Makhniashvili and is also facing charges related to another stabbing in May. The victims of the most recent attack had been the people who had acted as Makhniashvili's surety in the wake of the previous incident.

In an interview with the Town Crier in August Makhniashvili said that he felt uncomfortable with the Langers who he says were private investigators and required him to stay with them in their home longer than he had initially expected.

"Maybe for security purposes," Makhniashvili said during the interview. "But for whatever reason it was unexpected for me. Nobody told me about this."

The family was also recently in the news when their son George went missing for several hours on Nov. 1.

“It caused a lot of stress (for the family)," said Barry about George's disappearance. "It’s been a pretty tough week for them and every day is just stressful because of his daughter missing.”

Barry said his client is doing well at the moment. He plans to speak with Makhniashvili and will be updating his wife Lela Tabidze on his situation.

“She’s a pretty strong woman," he said. "She obviously is upset with what happened in the last 24 hours."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.


– With files from Joshua Freeman


http://www.mytowncrier.ca/makhniashvili-held-over-in-stabbing.html