An Ontario mother who was killed in front of her children at a park in the nation’s capital is another case of femicide, Ottawa police say.
On Thursday at around 11:25 a.m., police responded to reports a woman had been stabbed at a park near Uplands and Paul Anka drives in Ottawa.
Deputy Chief Trish Ferguson told reporters Friday 36-year-old Brkti Berhe, a mother of four, had been in the park with two of her children when the attack happened.
“Tragically, she succumbed to her injuries that morning in front of two of her children,” Ferguson said.
“Witnesses on scene quickly came to Brkti’s aid helping to protect the children and provide detailed description of the suspect who fled by car.”
A suspect was seen fleeing in a vehicle and was arrested on Highway 417 outside of Ottawa near Exit 66. Fsha Tekhle, 36, of Montreal, has been charged with first-degree murder.
Police allege Tekhle had a domestic relationship with a family member of the victim.
“This devastating event is a femicide. We take these matters very seriously and our hearts go out to the family at this time,” Ferguson said, adding Tekhle was likely heading back to Montreal at the time he was caught.
“Witnesses provided crucial information that led to the suspect’s arrest and also showed incredible compassion in trying to protect the young children at the scene.”
Tekhle was expected to appear in court on Friday.
Femicide is a term generally defined as the killing of a woman or girl based on their gender.
The European Institute of Gender Equality states femicide can take different forms, such as the murder of women because of intimate partner violence, the torture and misogynist slaying of women and the killing of women and girls in the name of “honour.”
This case makes the second time Ottawa police have used the term in a homicide investigation.
“It really is about stereotypical gender roles, decimation towards women, and these homicides are women who are killed by men because they are women,” Ferguson said.
“Traditionally we would all jump straight to the conclusion that they must be in an intimate relationship but that’s not always the case, and this is one of those matters where that’s the situation.”
— with files from Global News’ Sean Boynton