A 54-year-old Richmond man is facing two counts of first-degree murder in connection with a double homicide last week on Westwood Plateau in Coquitlam.
Police were called to a home on Alpine Lane on the afternoon of July 16, where they found the body of a 56-year-old Coquitlam woman as well as that of an Israeli man who had arrived in Canada just two days earlier.
Maurio Saheli, also known as Mo, was charged in the killings, the first this year in the Tri-Cities. Police said they believe he had a previous relationship with the deceased woman.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has not stated who lived in the home or how the woman and the Israeli man knew each other.
A woman delivering the Tri-City News to the home last week said she passed a man in the driveway talking on his phone before dropping the paper at the front door, which was wide open. It wasn't until later that she realized the man had discovered the bodies and was calling 911.
"He was really upset, desperate," said Ludmila, who asked that her last name not be used.
She was delivering papers on a nearby street a short time later when police officers, with their guns drawn, told her to leave the area because it wasn't safe.
In a release issued Wednesday, IHIT media relations officer Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said three jurisdictions co-ordinated in their efforts to locate and arrest the suspect.
"On behalf of the citizens served by the Coquitlam RCMP, I want to thank the IHIT investigators that have been working 24/7 since the tragic incident," said Supt. Sean Maloney, Coquitlam RCMP's officer in charge. "Supported by our people, IHIT is conducting a thorough investigation, including the swift apprehension of Mr. Saheli.
"There is a long way to go in this file and our people will continue to work with IHIT to move the investigation forward," he said, "but today’s news goes a long way to restoring a sense of safety and security to the neighbourhood surrounding the scene of the crime as well as the community at large."
Saheli remains in custody and is due to appear in court again on Aug. 12.
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