Mariam's dad pleads guilty in stabbingsBy Sam Pazzano ,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 2:05:25 EDT PM
The father of a missing Toronto teen pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of aggravated assault stemming from two separate stabbing episodes ― one against a former neighbour and another against a married couple who helped free him.
Vakhtang Makhniashvili, whose daughter, Mariam, disappeared outside her Forest Hill Collegiate school in September 2009, admitted he attacked the three victims last year.
His 17-year-old daughter’s disappearance sparked an unprecedented search by Toronto Police.
The 51-year-old father told Madam Justice Rebecca Rutherford he was claiming responsibility for the attacks involving onetime neighbour Sean Ure on May 7, 2010 and his former sureties, David and Delores Langer on Nov. 4, 2010.
He was remanded in custody until Friday, when prosecutor John Cisorio will present an agreed statement of facts.
Makhniashvili’s soft-spoken wife Lela Tabidze, who watched the brief hearing, said outside court that she is relieved the case was nearing a conclusion.
“It’s not over yet,” she said. “But I feel so much better it’s coming to an end.”
Defence lawyer Calvin Barry said he will be seeking a sentence of two years less a day, plus time spent in pretrial custody, to be served in a provincial reformatory.
Cisorio indicated he will argue for a penitentiary sentence.
A psychiatric assessment of Makhniashvili was ordered under the Mental Health Act.
“It’s been stressful, but his wife has been sticking with him and his son, George has been supportive,” Barry told reporters outside the courthouse.
The first stabbing occurred May 7, 2010, when Makhniashvili lived with his family in a rental highrise on Shallmar Blvd.
Makhniashvili confronted neighbour Sean Ure over noise and then stabbed him in the stomach.
David and Delores Langer ― whom Makhniashvili had never met ― posted $50,000 bail for his release and had him live with them.
Makhniashvili later learned they were private investigators who had taken a special interest in Mariam’s disappearance.
In June, the couple withdrew their bail, which landed Makhniashvili back in custody.
He was then released with his wife as his new surety. She had moved to another unit near Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. E.
Despite a massive police search, no trace has been found of Mariam.
Her disappearance took an extreme toll on the family and on Nov. 1, her brother, George, didn’t return home from school. His parents spoke with reporters, fearful their son, like their daughter, was abducted.
After a night of wandering the streets, George came home the next morning, but his disappearance prompted speculation.
Two days later, Makhniashvili showed up at the Langer’s residence, near Greenwood and Queen St. and attacked both of them.
sam.pazzano@sunmedia.ca
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/11/mariams-dad-pleads-guilty-in-stabbings
