The trial of a Brampton, Ont. man accused of aggravated assault, in a violent attack of a woman inside an underground parking garage in late 2021, has begun in a Newmarket courtroom.
Harshdeep Binner, 26, stands charged with the aggravated assault and possession of a stolen vehicle in the alleged attack of Elnaz Hajtamiri, the Richmond Hill woman police say was violently attacked December 20, 2021 in the underground parking garage of her condominium before a bystander stepped in and the men police say were responsible took off.
In his opening remarks to the Newmarket jury, Crown Attorney Michael Flosman told the court Hajtamiri was assaulted while walking to her car with a friend when she was pulled from her vehicle and hit in the head with a frying pan in what police believe, was the first attempt to hurt and kidnap Hajtamiri.
Police said Binner was one of two men hired to carry out the Richmond Hill attack on Hajtamiri, which the Crown explained, ended when a passerby came to Hajtamiri’s aid. Hajtamiri’s hair, the Crown told the jury, was pulled from her head and she suffered a big gash that required stitches.
Hajtamiri, police confirmed, went into hiding with loved ones in Wasaga Beach where, on the night of January 12, 2022, she was violently abducted from the home and hasn’t been seen since.
Months later police in Edmonton revealed Binner and a man named Riyasat Singh were arrested for allegedly stealing Ford F-150 pick-up trucks.
Singh was later arrested by York Regional Poloce and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the parking garage attack of Hajtamiri by the end of 2022, he was then deported. Binner was taken into custody months after Singh had been arrested.
The Crown told the jury Binner’s DNA was found in the parking garage on a balaclava left behind.
The two-week trial continues Wednesday.
