Shafia murder trial evacuated

By: Steph Crosier

The Shafia murder trial has been delayed after the courthouse was evacuated for unexplained security reasons.

At approximately 9:40 a.m. this morning the Kingston courthouse was evacuated.

The three suspects, Mohammad Shafia, 58, his wife Tooba Yahya, 42, and their son Hamed, 21, have been taken out of the courthouse. The three have each pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder.  They are accused of killing the teenage Shafia daughters Zainab,19, Sahar, 17, Geeti, 13, and Shafia’s first wife.

The court was set to continue hearing closing arguments in the case.

“The courthouse has been evacuated just minutes before everyone was scheduled to go into the court room,” said QNet reporter Katrina Geenevasen from Kingston. “Security came up and said we had to leave the building immediately, he couldn’t explain why.”

She said, the security guard said there was not enough time to explain. Everyone left the building but then was told to leave court property.

“There are rumours, but they can’t be confirmed, of a bomb threat,” said Geenevasen.

Geenevasen said spectators at the courthouse are scared and frustrated.

“Some people are mad because they’ve been here since 6 a.m.,” said Geenevasen.

Another woman said she was sad because walking into the courthouse, which had been operating without security checks, felt very Canadian. She expects security will be tighter when the trial resumes.

“She said it will be very ‘American’,” said Geenevasen.