A Winnipeg man accused of sending letter bombs in the mail has pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted murder.
Guido Amsel, 51, was in court Monday morning to fight the validity of a blood sample that was taken from him for DNA evidence at his upcoming trial.
During the brief hearing Amsel entered a not guilty plea on all charges.
“Hes maintained his innocence 100 per cent,” Amsel’s lawyer Saheel Zaman said. “He’s anxious to have his day in court.”
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Amsel was arrested in July 2015 after letter bombs were delivered to his ex-wife and two law firms. Two of the bombs were safely detonated.
WATCH: Global’s ongoing coverage of this case
Maria Mitousis, who had represented Amsel’s ex-wife in a divorce proceeding, lost her right hand and suffered other injuries when one package detonated.
“The issue will be about the legality of a blood sample that seized from our client and whether or not the information provided to the judge was 100 per cent accurate or not,” Zaman said.
The hearing on the admissibility of the DNA evidence was adjourned till Sept. 18.
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“If the DNA results are excluded about the blood sample taken from our client then results that are obtained in terms of the comparison of the DNA sample could potentially be compromised,” Zaman said.
Amsel’s trial is scheduled for 10 weeks starting Oct. 25.
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