[URBAN NOTE] On the continuing story of 934 Ossington Avenue and the murder of Allan Lanteigne
Last May, I noted that 934 Ossington Avenue had been sold. That address, a residential home in my neighbourhood, saw the brutal murder in 2011 of its prior resident, Allan Lanteigne, allegedly by a hit man hired by his estranged husband. Daily Xtra's HG Watson notes that said person has been discharged of charges.
An Ontario Court of Justice judge at Toronto’s Old City Hall discharged Demitry Papasotiriou on Sept 11 because of insufficient evidence. His mother and stepfather, two of the few in attendance in the sparsely populated courtroom, gasped in surprise at the decision. Papasotiriou smiled and embraced his lawyer, James Lockyer.
His co-accused, Michael Ivezic, will face a criminal trial for first-degree murder. The case is currently subject to a publication ban on all evidence.
Papasotiriou was arrested on Nov 2, 2012, on suspicion of killing his husband, Lanteigne. The victim, who worked as an accounting clerk at the University of Toronto, was found dead inside his home on Ossington Avenue on March 3, 2011, after co-workers grew concerned that he hadn’t arrived for work. At the time of Lanteigne’s death, Papasotiriou was studying law in Switzerland.
The co-accused, Ivezic, was arrested in Greece on Jan 16, 2013, after an Interpol warrant was issued for him. Upon his return to Canada in June 2013, police described him as a business associate of Papasotiriou’s and alleged that the pair were co-conspirators.
As in his previous court appearances, Papasotiriou was dressed in a suit too large for his small build and frameless glasses. After the judge’s decision he was clearly happy about what he had heard. Both he and his lawyer described themselves as relieved.
“I was sad when Allan died, and I am still sad,” Papasotiriou told Xtra. “I am relieved now that any suggestion that I had anything to do with his death is gone.”
The Toronto Star notes that this opens up the possibility of Papasotiriou gaining access to the financial proceeds of the house sale, currently being claimed by Lanteigne's mother.
An Ontario Court of Justice judge at Toronto’s Old City Hall discharged Demitry Papasotiriou on Sept 11 because of insufficient evidence. His mother and stepfather, two of the few in attendance in the sparsely populated courtroom, gasped in surprise at the decision. Papasotiriou smiled and embraced his lawyer, James Lockyer.
His co-accused, Michael Ivezic, will face a criminal trial for first-degree murder. The case is currently subject to a publication ban on all evidence.
Papasotiriou was arrested on Nov 2, 2012, on suspicion of killing his husband, Lanteigne. The victim, who worked as an accounting clerk at the University of Toronto, was found dead inside his home on Ossington Avenue on March 3, 2011, after co-workers grew concerned that he hadn’t arrived for work. At the time of Lanteigne’s death, Papasotiriou was studying law in Switzerland.
The co-accused, Ivezic, was arrested in Greece on Jan 16, 2013, after an Interpol warrant was issued for him. Upon his return to Canada in June 2013, police described him as a business associate of Papasotiriou’s and alleged that the pair were co-conspirators.
As in his previous court appearances, Papasotiriou was dressed in a suit too large for his small build and frameless glasses. After the judge’s decision he was clearly happy about what he had heard. Both he and his lawyer described themselves as relieved.
“I was sad when Allan died, and I am still sad,” Papasotiriou told Xtra. “I am relieved now that any suggestion that I had anything to do with his death is gone.”
The Toronto Star notes that this opens up the possibility of Papasotiriou gaining access to the financial proceeds of the house sale, currently being claimed by Lanteigne's mother.