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Last Updated : 2024-05-21 17:21:00
15 March 2024 08:47 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
OTTAWA, March 15 (Canadian Press) - The 19-year-old charged with killing six people in an Ottawa suburb last week is being held in protective custody, his lawyer said Thursday.
Febrio De-Zoysa was arrested March 6 and is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
"I can comment that he's in protective custody. He's doing OK," his lawyer, Ewan Lyttle, told reporters after a brief court appearance that took place by phone.
De-Zoysa's matter was adjourned until March 28 to give Lyttle time to receive and begin reviewing disclosure from the Crown, a process he suggested would take months.
Police say De-Zoysa, who came to Canada as an international student, had been living with the victims, who were also newcomers from Sri Lanka.
They included 35-year-old Darshani Ekanayake, her husband Dhanushka Wickramasinghe and their four children.
Ekanayake had moved to Canada in recent months with three children — Inuka, 7, Ashwini, 4 and Ranaya, 3. Kelly was born in Canada two-and-a-half months ago.
Wickramasinghe was taken to hospital with injuries to his hands and face.
A friend who had been living with them, 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon Amarakoon Mudiyanselage, was also killed. He had a wife and two children living in Sri Lanka.
Naradha Kodituwakku of the Buddhist Congress of Canada has been among those supporting Wickramasinghe while he recovers.
Kodituwakku said Wickramasinghe was still in hospital as of Thursday afternoon and his father and brother had arrived from Sri Lanka to support him.
The funeral for his wife and children is expected to be held this weekend.
A monk at the temple the family attended told The Canadian Press last week that Wickramasinghe arrived home late from his cleaning service job to find that his family was dead.
Bhante Suneetha, the resident monk at Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery, said that's when Wickramasinghe was attacked.
Suneetha also said Wickramasinghe told him the suspect had been having difficulties at school.
Lyttle said he has been in touch with the suspect's family and that they are "obviously very upset."
He said they do not live in Sri Lanka, but he declined to say where they have been living.
An aunt who lives in Ottawa told Global News last week that De-Zoysa stayed with her when he arrived in Canada two years ago, but that he had cut off communication with his family.
Any potential request for De-Zoysa to undergo a mental-health assessment would "probably be a few months from now," Lyttle said.
He declined to comment on his client's mental state, saying only he had met with him in person and over video.
Police have not publicly suggested a motive for the alleged murders. Chief Eric Stubbs told reporters last week the victims were attacked with a "knifelike object."
The deaths have triggered an outpouring of shock and grief from the community.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe called the killings "one of the most shocking incidents of violence" in the city's history.
Mat the SOULS of the victims RIP Friday, 15 March 2024 10:42 AM
The suspects family is obviously not living in Canada. I would not be surprised if the family fled from Sri Lanka the moment they heard of this shocking murders. It is sad that some parents more or less force their children to go overseas for studies to keep up with the JONES, sadly some young children have difficulties settling in to a foreign country and this is probably one such incident, as he is seemed to have not attended College on a regular basis, ended his studies winter 2023 and isolated himself from his family. I pray the husband and the rest of his and his wife's families get the justice they so deserve once this horrific murders are solved.
shenon ranasinghe Friday, 15 March 2024 11:30 AM
the accused in this case must face the death sentence even he is insane. people must not be forgiven for murder if he gets away then it shows how weak the justice system is in canada trudue should make sure this basted is done away for good without giving comments of sorrow which will take nobody anyware
Punchi Friday, 15 March 2024 11:37 AM
We cannot blame this chap, he comes from a culture where killing is the norm. He was just exporting this benefit of our 2500 year old civilisation to the less fortunate Canadians
Alex Friday, 15 March 2024 10:55 PM
What an idiot this punchi fellow is....
Mila Saturday, 16 March 2024 04:20 AM
You must be tamil for sure!
Anura W Friday, 15 March 2024 12:04 PM
19 years old, not a minor.
Ram Friday, 15 March 2024 01:33 PM
It is time now to have a prior mental health assessment for studies abroad and migration
Ara Soyza Saturday, 16 March 2024 05:44 AM
What type of faithfulness Wickramasingha had with the killer? Arrest him and question. How much elites support the insane trend LGBTQ, that much the reverberations shock the world.
Cliffton Saturday, 16 March 2024 01:27 PM
Can’t blame him when he comes from a country that is notorious for killing their own people. It’s just bad luck for Canada to have such people there
Tissa Fernando Saturday, 16 March 2024 09:35 PM
Really, you must be an armchair retired and retarded chap.
Jeanne Sunday, 17 March 2024 09:57 AM
This is the 21st century. Children can never be forced into "studying"overseas if they don't want to. They simply rebel and leave home. This scumbag knew what he was doing. I fail to understand why people blame the parents for the sins of their children.
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