Nadia Dimitroff is the newest addition to Peel Law Chambers.  Beginning as a summer student in 2008, she has progressed to a full time position with our firm. In the spring of 2011, Nadia graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University; she currently holds an Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Criminology.

Should you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact our office and Nadia will be glad to assist you.

NYC Model pleads guilty to taking Toronto baby

By: CBC News  Click here for the CBC NEWS STORY

Cbc.ca

A New York Model and actor has admitted to abducting a Toronto baby at a bogus Bollywood movie casting call last December.

An aspiring actor and model from New York City has admitted to abducting a Toronto baby at a bogus movie casting call last December.

Michelle Marie Gopaul pleaded guilty to one count of child abduction in a Toronto court last Friday morning. She has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in addition to the time she has already spent in custody.

Gopaul, 25, was arrested during the early hours of Dec. 31 after police recovered one- month- old Roma Patel. The baby had gone missing four hours earlier at A la Carte Videos- a western Toronto production studio- during a purported casting call.

The baby’s parents had responded to an ad on Craigslist that offered $15,000 in compensation for allowing their baby to be used in a film shoot.

Before she was sentence Friday, Gopaul tearfully told the judge she was afraid to give the baby back so she handed the infant off to her ex- boyfriend because she knew he would return the child.

She said she had “never been in trouble with the cops before: and didn’t know what to do, adding that she was sorry.

“Everyone thinks I’m a bad person but I’m not a bad person,” she told the c, shaking and crying.

Her lawyer Gary Batasar told the court Gopaul had been taking medication for sleeping and anxiety and had a history of depression.

Police said at the time of the arrest that Gopaul had been living in Toronto for several months.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/04/01/michelle-gopaul-baby-abduction365.html

gbatasar@peellawchambers.com

(PH) (905) 866-6464
(Fax) (905) 866-6023

The Law Offices of GARY BATASAR is a criminal law office specializing in all criminal charges. High profile lawyer Gary Batasar deals with all criminal cases including murder, assault, aggravated assault, theft, mischief, impaired driving, criminal harassment, domestic assaults, uttering threats, as well as all other criminal charges. We will fight for our clients and ensure that they get the best results possible no matter what they are charged with. We receive excellent results for our clients and we have a proven track record that speaks for itself. We at Law Offices of GARY BATASAR treat all our clients with the respect that they deserve and we strongly believe in the solicitor/client relationship as being one of trust and respect.

Mr. Batasar has appeared on numerous TV, newspaper and internet reports for his work in criminal law, including CNN, CTV, CBC, Global News, The Fifth Estate, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, London Telegraph, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, The Globe and Mail and numerous other media reports around the world.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts – University of Toronto November 22 1993
Bachelor of Law – Queens University May 25th 1996

rmaharaj@peellawchambers.com

(cell) (416) 809-5529

(PH) (905) 866-6464
(Fax) (905) 866-6023

Rajiv H. Maharaj, B.Sc(Hons.), LL.B., Barrister-at-Law

Rajiv H. Maharaj practices solely in the area of criminal law. Mr. Maharaj has an excellent track record for successful results in both complex and routine matters. His practice has included work on a variety of trials in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice. Mr. Maharaj completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto and received an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Exceptionality in Human Learning (psychology). He studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University where he participated in the well established Intensive Program in Criminal Law. He received his LL.B in 2005 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006 (July). Mr. Maharaj was also appointed to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board, a quasi-judicial regulatory tribunal, in 2005 where he served as an adjudicator until August 2nd, 2007. Mr. Maharaj has a wide array of interests including international politics, human rights issues and international and criminal law. In addition, he has pursued continuing education through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and The Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators.

Mr. Maharaj currently sits on the board of directors of Safe City Mississauga which is dedicated to ensuring a safe place to live, work, learn and play, Safe City Mississauga is a community-driven, not-for-profit charitable association dedicated to injury prevention and promoting safety.

Incorporated in 1992, Safe City Mississauga (formerly known as the Mississauga Crime Prevention Association or MCPA) works in partnership with the, Peel Regional Police, Peel District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, MIssissauga Board of Trade,Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, businesses, community groups and citizens of the City of Mississauga.

Mr. Maharaj also served on the board of directors of Heart House Hospice from 2010 until 2011 where he volunteered his expertise on a probono basis. Heart House Hospice is an organization dedicated to providing 52 weeks of emotional, spiritual and practical physical companionship. They attend to the client‚ As non-medical and respite needs during their end-of-life experience, and the needs of their loved ones during bereavement.

Links

www.safecitymississauga.on.ca

www.hearthousehospice.com

(PH) (905) 866-6464
(Fax) (905) 866-6023

Prior to founding Peel Law Chambers, Cheryl Batasar earned a degree in journalism from Ryerson University, following which she worked extensively in marketing, advertising and in the production of television commercials.

Prior to heading Peel Law Chambers, Cheryl was the founder and president of Nexport Inc. an operation specializing in the importation and retail distribution of artistic clothing for women.

In addition to her obligations at PLC she also was recently appointed by the Minister of Health for Ontario as a member of council for the College of Psychologists of Ontario where she currently sits as a presiding member.

In 2006 Mr. Kenawy travelled to the United Kingdom to study Law where he obtained his LLB with Honours from the University of Birmingham in 2009. He is an active member in his community speaking fluent English and Arabic.

Mr. Kenawy focuses exclusively in the area of Criminal Law providing excellent service and legal advice.

Outside of law Mr. Kenawy is an avid reader of politics and history. He has enjoyed volunteering for prestigious organizations such as UNICEF and is dedicated to helping those less fortunate. Mr. Kenawy also enjoys a wide range of sports and recreation.

Ahmed Absiye has returned to Peel Law Chambers after summering with the firm in 2009 and is currently in the process of completing his qualification exams. He earned his law degree in 2010 from Queen Mary, University of London in the United Kingdom and is expecting to be called to the bar in 2011.

Mr. Absiye completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto and earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Anthropology. While attending the University of Toronto, Mr. Absiye was an elected member of the Student Administrative Council and served as a director.

Exemplified by his volunteer record, Mr. Absiye is an active contributor to society. Amongst other activities, he has travelled to Africa to assist at the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, volunteered as a youth councillor advocating for crime prevention, and established afterschool programs encouraging young students to achieve success in all aspects of life.

Mr. Absiye is fluent in English, Somali, and Arabic.

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April 18, 2010

Three people facing charges in connection with last spring’s slaying of a Colombian national behind a City Centre condominium, will be appearing in court in the coming days.

Hearings are being arranged for the three men arrested in the murder outside Chelsea Towers, on Shipp Dr. back on June 2.

Just after 10 p.m., police found Andres David Buritica-Marin, 25, bleeding behind the building. He died later in hospital.
Police believe Buritica-Marin was shot during a drug deal.

Denton McKenzie, 50, of Brampton, has been charged with first-degree murder. McKenzie will be in court April 21 with his lawyer, Gary Batasar.

Batasar maintains his client is innocent of the charge and said the case is progressively working its way through the courts.

Ryan Merrick Johnson, 42, of Mississauga, along with Brampton resident Collin Nathan Theodore Reid, 45, are charged with second degree murder.

Johnson will be in court April 22 and Reid appears May 13, court records show.

Police say they have seized one kilogram of cocaine in connection with the slaying.

“This was an intended drug…robbery that went very wrong,” Peel homicide Insp. Norm English said back in June. “Cash also plays a prominent role.”

“So far, a kilo of cocaine has been seized and we know there is a lot more.”

The kilo of cocaine seized is worth about $50,000, police say.

Police have not said if the killing is connected to a South American drug cartel.

lrosella@mississauga.net

Accused granted bail in collision that injured three

Bob Mitchell

Peel/ Halton Bureau Chief

A Mississauga teenager, charged after three people were injured and a woman’s 6- month- old fetus was killed in a street race, regularly races his father’ car, the crown has told a court.

Alexandru Bejinariu, 18, was placed under house arrest yesterday after being released into his parents’ custody on $60,000 bail.

The teen turned himself in to Peel Region police Tuesday night, a say after the street- racing collision in Mississauga. He is charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm ad failing to remain at the scene of an accident. Charged were not laid stemming from the death of the fetus.

The accident occurred during a high- speed race on Dundas St. W. near Winston Churchill Blvd. at about 8:30pm Monday, police say. A Pontiac Firebird, which police say was a racing Chrysler Intrepid, crashed into a Ford Explorer making a left- hand turn at the intersection.

At a bail hearing held without a publication ban yesterday, Crown Attorney John Raftery urged Brampton Justice of the Peace John Farnum to deny bail, saying the accused’ girlfriend told police he, “Street raced twice a week, usually on highways but sometimes on city streets.”

“This really isn’t an isolated incident”, Raftery told the court, adding the public’ safety demanded that a detention order be issued.

But defence lawyer Gary Batasar says although the circumstances of his client’s arrest‚ “were unfortunate,” he urged the court not to find the girlfriend’s testimony “truthful‚” until it was tested in court.

Farnum agreed and granted the teen’s release, but only after imposing strict conditions.

The teen, who has been driving for 18 months, must surrender his driver’s licence and is prohibited from getting behind the wheel of any motorized vehicle until his case is completed. Farnum ordered Bejinariu to remain in his parents’ home at all times, except for school, employment and legal visits or if accompanied by his parents. His parents must drive him anywhere he goes.

During the hearing, Raftery said a witness told police that a 1998 Intrepid and a 1986 Firebird were‚ “revving their engines‚” as they waited side by side at Ridgeway Dr. on Dundas St. W. on Monday. The two vehicles then sped away, and police estimate they entered the intersection at Dundas and Winston Churchill on an amber light, heading east at 120km/h, double the speed limit.

Raftery said the Intrepid entered the intersection ahead of the Firebird and ‚”narrowly missed‚” hitting a westbound Ford Explorer that was waiting to turn left on to southbound Winston Churchill.

But the Firebird smashed into the passenger side of the Explorer, the crown said.

Galena Shelepen, 21, who was six months pregnant, suffered a broken arm and abdominal injuries, and underwent an emergency caesarean section, but her fetus was stillborn. Her partner, Alexei Zoubkov, 35, who was driving the Explorer, suffered a broken leg. Both remain in stable condition at Credit Valley Hospital.

The 16- year- old driver of the Firebird remains in hospital with leg, arm and abdominal injuries. Bejinariu is to appear in court again tomorrow.

This was the second high speed street race in three days in Mississauga. On Saturday night, two men died instantly after a collision during a race on Burnhamthorpe Rd.

Page A1

DRIVERS NOT GUILTY OF STREET RACING

Louie Rosella

Staff

The Mississauga News

Two Mississauga drivers charges with street racing causing an expectant mother to lose her unborn child have been acquitted of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. Alexandru Bejinariu, 20, left Superior Court Friday with his family after Justice Hugh Atwood found him not guilty on four counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, in a tragic accident in July 2002.

Bejinariu was found guilty, however, of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and will be sentences July 14. the man‚’s lawyer, Gary Batasar, said his client was, “delighted and elated”with the judge‚’s decision.

“From the very beginning, my client remained his innocence. My client has maintained he was never even involved in a street race,”said Batasar Friday. “The judge‚’s decision had vindicated Mr. Bejinariu.‚Äö√Ñ√π

In the July 8 crash, Mississauga couple Alexei Zoubkov, 34, and hiss common- law partner Galena Shelepen, 21, were waiting to make a left- hand turn at the Dundas St. W. and Winston Churchill Blvd. intersection when a 1986 Pontiac Firebird, driven b y a 16- year- old male, crashed into them.

Zoubkov sustained minor injuries, while Shelepen, who was six months pregnant, underwent an emergency caesarean in hospital, which was unsuccessful. She also suffered a broken arm and other minor injuries.

The driver of the firebird went to hospital with several injuries, along with a passenger in his car. But days later, police charged the driver with three counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

In February of this year, the accused teen, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was also acquitted on all counts.

Peel Regional Police said witnesses reported a Firebird was racing with Bejinariu’s Chrysler Intrepid, which they said managed to drive through the intersection untouched. Police say Bejinariu turned himself into police a day after the accident.

Batasar said the charges against Bejinariu have been difficult on him and the family.

“His parents immigrated here and worked very hard to give him a good life,”said Batasar.” Mr. Bejinariu wants to put this behind him, go to (post secondary school) school and continue with his life.

The failure to remain charge, did however, teach Bejinariu a lesson according to Batasar.