Mohammed Shamji, 40, made a brief court appearance Saturday morning at Old City Hall.
Shamji has been charged with first-degree murder after his wife’s body was found in a suitcase Thursday afternoon in York Region.
READ MORE: Homicide unit investigating after body found in Vaughan
His wife, Elana Fric Shamji, was also a physician. After a post-mortem investigation Toronto police say the victim, who worked at The Scarborough Hospital, died of strangulation and blunt force trauma.
Det. Sgt. Steve Ryan of the Toronto police said the victim was a mother of three and last heard from on Wednesday evening.
In a statement Dr. Tom Chan, Interim Chief Medical Officer of Scarborough and Rouge Hospital wrote, “We are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Dr. Elana Fric Shamji. We send our condolences to her family and friends.”
WATCH: Toronto neurosurgeon charged with murder makes first court appearance. Mike Drolet reports.
He added that staff will be working with their team in the Department of Family and Community Medicine to have physicians ready to care for her patients.
The accused was arrested at a coffee shop in Mississauga around 8 p.m. Friday. His next court appearance will be on Dec. 20.