Alleged Winnipeg bomber Guido Amsel’s case put over to Thursday

WINNIPEG – A man accused of sending letter bombs to Winnipeg lawyers and his ex-wife had his first court date Tuesday on charges including attempted murder.

The Crown asked that Guido Amsel, 49, be ordered not to contact any of his alleged victims and the case was put over until Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Amsel, who is being held in custody, didn’t appear in person and was temporarily represented by an articling law student.

Police allege Amsel became so enraged over perceived mistreatment at the hands of his former wife and lawyers who were involved in the couple’s long-running legal disputes, he sent explosive devices to their offices though Canada Post.

READ MORE: Winnipeg letter bombs hidden in voice recorders: police

The Canadian Press has reported that Maria Mitousis, Amsel’s ex-wife’s lawyer, lost one of her hands when the first letter bomb went off last Friday.

Police detonated two more devices over the weekend and warned justice officials that more could be found in the next day or so.

Amsel is accused of attempting to murder both Mitousis and his ex-wife, Iris Amsel. He’s also charged with:

• aggravated assault on Mitousis;
• hiding explosives in small, grey voice recorders with the intent to harm Mitousis and Amsel;
• two counts of making explosives;
• two counts of possessing a weapon (an explosive device); and
• committing mischief by damaging the Petersen King law offices, where Mitousis was injured, and James Automotive Refinishing on Washington Avenue, where the police bomb disposal unit set off another device.

READ MORE: Winnipeg bombing suspect was friendly, neighbours say

Many Winnipeg residents are unnerved after police issued a warning to exercise caution when opening packages because they don’t know how many bombs were mailed. Police have received dozens of reports of suspicious packages.

City hall and a nearby Canada Post office were briefly evacuated Monday.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story contained unclear information about the charges against Amsel.

— With files from The Canadian Press