Winnipeg police have arrested five people in relation to a homicide in the city’s Maples area last month after officer “intuition” led to a traffic stop.
Hossein Lotfi, a 77-year-old man from Winnipeg, was found dead on Jan. 9.
Police said Friday Lofti had been socializing with two people in his home on Manila Road four days earlier when a fight broke out and Lofti was badly hurt.
READ MORE: Traffic stop leads Winnipeg police to a body in the Maples
The suspects fled in his car, but police report they returned the next night with friends to steal identification and bank cards, which were used over the following days in and around the city.
It wasn’t until a few days later, during a routine traffic stop, that officers were lead to the home.
“Something didn’t feel right,” Cst. Murray said. “Part of being a police officer is intuition and these officers demonstrated that perfectly.”
The two officers couldn’t get in touch with the vehicle’s registered owner, so they sent a cruiser to check on the listed address.
Lofti’s body was found in the house, which had been set on fire, causing an “excessive amount of damage”.
“Had those officers not made decision, it’s very likely Mr. Lofti wouldn’t have been found for a week or more,” Cst. Mrray said. “It was critical.”
36-year-old Yvonne Littlejohn and 35-year-old Myra Dawn Bird, both of Winnipeg, have been charged with second degree murder and theft over $5,000.
43-year-old Charles Clayton Shabaquay, a 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old female, all also from Winnipeg, are facing various charges including arson causing damage to property, possession of property obtained by crime, identity fraud and theft under $5,000.
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