Dates for a preliminary inquiry have been scheduled for a 19-year-old former international student accused of murdering members of a family he had been residing with in an Ottawa suburb.
Febrio De-Zoysa was taken into custody in early March and charged with six counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of a 35-year-old Sri Lankan woman, her four children, and a family friend.
He also faces one count of attempted murder after the father of the family was hospitalized on the night of the killings with injuries to his hands and face.
Authorities were alerted to a townhouse in the Barrhaven suburb where they found six deceased individuals, including four children aged between two months and seven years old.
Legal representatives appeared in court today to establish pre-trial dates for next April and a preliminary inquiry scheduled from May 12 to 14, 2025.
Mr. De-Zoysa’s attorney stated last week that his client has no intentions of seeking bail.
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According to Ewan Lyttle, the young man is being held in protective custody due to the severity of the charges, and his family is understandably distraught.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe described the mass stabbings as “one of the most appalling acts of violence” in the city’s history.
The tragic events prompted an outpouring of sorrow from neighbors, city officials, and the Sri Lankan community.
