Rohinie Bisesar is shown in a Toronto Police Service handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Police Service
Republished December 18, 2015 - 9:00 AM
Original Publication Date December 18, 2015 - 1:00 AM
TORONTO - A woman charged in an apparently unprovoked fatal stabbing in Toronto's financial district will remain in custody until the new year.
Rohinie Bisesar smiled slightly as she was led into the prisoner's box Friday, dressed in a dark green sweatsuit. She conferred with her lawyer but did not address the court.
She was remanded until her next hearing, scheduled for Jan. 8.
Bisesar, 40, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 28-year-old Rosemarie Junor. If convicted, she would spend life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 to 25 years.
She was initially charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon. The attempted murder charge was upgraded to second-degree after Junor's death. The two remaining charges have been stayed.
Bisesar's lawyer said outside court he's been unable to assess his client's mental state or whether she understands what's going on.
But Calvin Barry said she is "very upset — she's like a deer in headlights."
He would not comment on whether Bisesar and Junor knew each other.
Police allege Bisesar stabbed Junor at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto's popular underground PATH network of shops and restaurants last Friday.
Security images taken at the time of the stabbing showed a well-dressed, long-haired woman making a hasty retreat from the drugstore.
Junor, a newlywed medical technician who worked nearby, was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died five days after the attack.
Bisesar was the subject of a manhunt for several days before her arrest on Tuesday.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2015