Pair found guilty in brutal 2018 beating of Mississauga father, not guilty of attempted murder
CBC
Two men charged in the 2018 assault of a Mississauga father of two beaten within an inch of his life have been found guilty of aggravated assault but not guilty of attempted murder.
Janis Corhamzic and Adem Corhamzic, who were previously charged with aggravated assault and assault in the attack on Mohammed Abu Marzouk, were found guilty at a judge-alone trial in Superior Court in Brampton on Tuesday.
The attack left Abu Marzouk's family forever changed — the large scar still visible on the back of his head a reminder of the incident that nearly ended his life.
Court heard Tuesday the father of two suffered 10 to 15 skull fractures and brain bleeding resembling the injuries one might see in a car crash. His attackers, meanwhile, could be heard yelling, "f--king Arabs!, f--king terrorists."
Those comments are among the reasons police considered the crime "hate-motivated."
Yet in delivering his verdict, Justice Fletcher Dawson said he believed the attack was "anti-Arab, not anti-Muslim."
During the attack, Abu Marzouk's four- and six-year-old daughters could be heard asking if their dad had died and if they would ever see him again, court heard. "Our dad is going to die," the girls were heard saying from the van.
"This did not deter the accused," Dawson said.
Still, said Dawson, "I am unable to say I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of their intent to kill. That said, this was a close case."
Abu Marzouk's wife could be seen shaking her head in apparent dissatisfaction at the result.
Court heard Abu Marzouk was kicked repeatedly in the head in what one witness described as an act fuelled by hate.
"It was like they were trying to kick a soccer ball as far as they could," court head from one witness.
WATCH | Wife of victim speaks exclusively to CBC News in 2018:
Court also heard from a police officer who testified he remembered the incident like it was yesterday. Even four and half years after the incident, he maintained it was "the most gruesome event" he'd ever witnessed.
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