A prominent lawyer for Barry and Honey Sherman‘s family says he has retained a former Toronto police homicide detective and other experts to look into the deaths of the couple as officers continue their investigation.
“I have retained a number of forensic experts including Tom Klatt and other distinguished homicide investigators to provide a second lens and to ensure that no stone is left unturned,” Brian Greenspan told Global News Thursday in a brief written statement.
Klatt worked as an investigator for 19 years and was involved in more than 70 murder investigations, according to a biography on his website.
READ MORE: Toronto police, sewage crews checking pipes in front of Barry and Honey Sherman’s house
“He received specialized training and developed an expertise in crime scene profiling and statement analysis. Throughout his career, he was involved in several high-profile international murder cases,” the biography read in part.
Barry Sherman and his wife Honey were found inside their Old Colony Road home on Dec. 15. A post-mortem examination found the Shermans died of “ligature neck compression.” Toronto police homicide investigators are treating the deaths as suspicious, but officers haven’t named any potential suspects or released much information about the investigation.
As of Thursday afternoon, a police cruiser remains parked in front of the home as yellow crime scene tape blocks the front of the property. Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash told Global News investigators are still going into the home and the measures are needed to protect the crime scene.
READ MORE: Mourners pay tribute to Canadian billionaire couple Barry and Honey Sherman
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When asked about the hiring of private investigators by the Sherman family, Pugash said Toronto police would not be commenting. He also declined to comment on what, if any, information would be shared with those investigators, as well as the police service’s policies on sharing information with private and third-party investigators.
“Our concentration is on the death investigation and that’s where all of our work is going,” Pugash said.
Meanwhile, the Globe and Mail reported that Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke with the Sherman family and relayed concerns to police about information being given to media outlets, including Global News, by various sources.
WATCH: Family, friends pay tribute to Barry and Honey Sherman
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John Tory says Barry, Honey Sherman’s ‘humanity knew no bounds’ -
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Don Peat, Tory’s director of communications, told Global News in a written statement Thursday that the mayor talked with the family over the phone and at the memorial service for Barry and Honey Sherman.
“Most of the Mayor’s conversation with the Sherman family involved him expressing condolences. The family did raise a concern that they were seeing information in the media before it was communicated to them by police. The Mayor conveyed those concerns to Toronto police,” Peat said.
READ MORE: Sources reveal details of ‘suspicious’ deaths of Apotex founder Barry Sherman and wife Honey
“He conveyed those concerns dispassionately and did not make any requests of police, but simply relayed their concerns about communication of information, similar to what he would do when other families he contacts have concerns with police or anyone else.”
Pugash declined to say what actions, if any, the Toronto Police Service has taken in response to the concerns relayed through the mayor.
READ MORE: Deaths of Apotex chairman Barry Sherman and wife Honey ‘appear suspicious,’ Toronto police say
Barry, 75, was the founder of generic drug-maker Apotex. Canadian Business magazine recently listed him as the 15th richest person in Canada, with a net worth of $4.77 billion. He was also an active philanthropist, including donating $50 million to the United Jewish Appeal. Barry had also become an active fundraiser for the Liberal party in recent years, but was criticized for holding a pay-for-access fundraiser in August 2015 that included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau while being registered as a lobbyist.
Honey, 70, was a member of the board of the Baycrest Foundation and the York University Foundation. She also served on the boards of Mount Sinai’s Women’s Auxiliary, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the International American Joint Distribution Committee.
With files from Shallima Maharaj and The Canadian Press
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