Caution: This article involves graphic and sensitive content that might be unsettling for some readers.
Toronto courtroom witnessed an apology from Carland Walker on Thursday as he faced the sisters of Nabila Aminzadah, his girlfriend. The jury found Walker guilty of first-degree murder on October 23, denying his attempt to plead guilty to manslaughter, stating he had no intention of killing his girlfriend.
Walker expressed remorse to Justice Michael Brown, acknowledging that Aminzadah did not deserve the ill-treatment he subjected her to. He reiterated his testimony, which the jury had dismissed. “I never wanted Nabila to die. I truly loved her, and when I caused her pain, it wasn’t out of love. Her absence is my fault,” stated Walker.
Walker, who confessed not being a saint or a hero, added that he didn’t deserve Nabila’s kindness. On November 12, 2021, the police were summoned to a basement apartment on Ellesmere Rd. near Morningside Rd. where Walker and his brother resided.
Court evidence revealed that upon arrival, the paramedics discovered Aminzadah, a 36-year-old woman, lying unconscious in Walker’s room. She had bruises all over her body, a swollen face and eyes, and signs of bleeding. A broken broomstick, HDMI cable, two darts, and packing tape with hair and blood were discovered at the scene.
Aminzadah was immediately rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. The cause of death was identified as multiple blunt force and sharp force injuries. Assistant Crown attorney Beverley Olesko, in her sentencing submissions, told Justice Brown that Walker used packing tape to bind her hands, legs and head to muffle her screams.
Olesko described the incident as akin to torture, stating that Walker used a broomstick and an HDMI cable to assault Aminzadah. This violent event occurred within the confines of the bedroom, leaving Aminzadah with no means of escape. Olesko mentioned that there were at least 256 individual strikes on Aminzadah.
Olesko further highlighted the incident as a case of intimate partner violence, emphasizing the ripple effects of the crime on first responders, medical staff, Walker’s brother, and Aminzadah’s family. She stated, “We can’t even begin to comprehend the sheer terror she must have felt, being unable to escape her assailant.”
Olesko revealed a pattern of escalating abuse in Walker’s two-year relationship with Aminzadah. She also informed the judge that Walker was on bail at the time for assault with a weapon, an incident not involving Aminzadah.
The statutory sentence for first-degree murder is life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. Aminzadah’s three sisters, who were present throughout the trial, initially intended to file victim impact statements but decided against it, wishing to “close the chapter” and not share their grief publicly.
Justice Brown will deliver his sentence on December 13.
