Multiple investigations underway after B.C. woman’s suspicious death in Australia
Police in Australia are investigating the suspicious death of a woman who used to live in Surrey, B.C., after her body was found in her apartment on the outskirts of Sydney.
A separate investigation has also been launched to look into the way police handled an emergency call the night before from a woman saying she was being assaulted in the same building.
Thirty-four-year-old Tatania Dokhotaru had an Apprehended Violence Order against her estranged partner which is similar to a protection order here in Canada.
Despite the AVO, police say they found 28-year-old Danny Zayat and the couple’s four-year-old son in the apartment when they located Dokhotaru’s body.
Zayat was arrested and faces a total of 18 domestic violence charges in relation to previous complaints from Dokhotaru.
He is being held without bail.
Friends say Dokhotaru sent them numerous pictures and videos of alleged domestic violence injuries over the course of the relationship but she stayed with her estranged partner because they had a child together.
"Of course using children is going to be a way in which abusers can stay in a survivor's life. My heart goes out to that little boy and to the family,” said Karen Alcantara, a domestic violence counsellor with the Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre.
Dokhotaru moved to Sydney more than a decade ago and her parents still live in B.C.
"No parent should ever have to outlive their child. We cry out for justice and have faith the truth will prevail. Please pray for us,” Olga Dokhotaru said in a statement to 9 News Australia.
New South Wales Police say an emergency dispatcher took a call just before midnight on Friday, May 26 from a woman claiming she was being assaulted and that someone was trying to take money from her in her apartment.
It took officers three hours to respond, and when they did they could not locate the caller in the 297-unit building.
"She provided no name, and the address for that phone call was a large block of units here in Liverpool,” said NSWP Asst. Comm. Stuart Smith.
Police would find Dokhotaru’s body at 8:00 p.m. the next day after being called by a neighbour.
An independent critical incident investigation will look into whether the police response to the initial emergency call was appropriate.
In the meantime, no charges have been laid in connection to Dokhotaru’s death which is being investigated by the NSWP homicide unit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.