23 July 2009

Kingston Ontario murders...

...make Dubai media...
The grisly discovery of the bodies of four former Dubai women at the bottom of a freshwater boating canal in Canada has led to the arrest of a former Dubai businessman, his wife and their son.

According to media reports, Mohammad Shafi, his wife, and his 18-year-old son were arrested in Montreal where they have lived after moving from Dubai.

A native of Kabul, Afhganistan, Shafi was taken into custody in connection to the unexplained deaths of his three daughters Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17 and Geeti, 13 and a fourth relative Rona Amir Mohammed, all of whom lived in Dubai for 15 years before immigrating to Canada two years ago.
It's a little different treatment that the Shafi family initially received in the Canadian papers...
"In a tearful interview at his home shortly after the car was found, Shafee said he couldn't shake the feeling that the crash may have been the result of Zainab taking the family car without permission."
Unsurprisingly, the Toronto Star, despite a slew of red flags, was quick to take sides...
They just snapped up the father's story and ran with it...
Shafi, who speaks limited English, said he has no idea who's responsible for what he called a "big mistake take car."

"Mistake Zainab? Mistake Sahab?"
A mistake... or was it a magic flying car, a la Harry Potter?
The mother's aunt, Zarmina Fazel, told the Star, "It would go around fences, I don't know. I'm in shock."

She went on, "Midnight, practice driving by the water is not normal, no? I cannot understand."
Fresh, and decidedly less uncritical details are just now starting to emerge...
The Kingston Whig Standard reported that Kingston police had received an e-mail from Diba Masoomi, a woman living in Niort, France who claims to be the older woman's sister.

In the e-mail, sent two weeks ago, she wrote: "We are convinced that this is a crime of honour."
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UPDATE: Was polygamy involved here as well?
Insp. Brian Begbie said investigators have "cause to believe" the older woman found in the car, Rona Amir Mohammed, was Mohammad Shafia's first wife.
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