Son charged in 88-year-old mother’s death, Peel police say

Peel Regional Police say an 88-year-old woman is dead after being attacked by her son with a weapon in Mississauga Tuesday evening.

Police said emergency crews were called to the Shelby Crescent and Willowbank Trail area, near Tomken Road and Eastgate Parkway, at around 6:15 p.m. with reports of an assault.

Officers said the victim was taken to a trauma centre by paramedics in critical condition after being struck with an undisclosed weapon. Police said the woman died as a result of blunt force injuries. The victim was identified to Global News as Mariantonia Biunno, who went by the name Maria.

A spokesperson said a 52-year-old male suspect from Mississauga surrendered to officers. The suspect was identified as Tony Biunno, the victim’s son, and is now charged with second-degree murder.

The accused made a brief court appearance Wednesday and was remanded into custody. He will be back in court on Sept. 18.

Diego Serano, Tony’s landlord, said he feared for his own safety after Tony allegedly threatened to torch the commercial building where he rented an apartment above a pet food store.

“He said he was going to put the fire in the building. He said wanted to burn the building. They know this problem is going on and nobody does nothing,” Serano said, explaining that he called police a number of times on his tenant who threatened him after he told Biunno he was going to court to have him evicted because he was behind two months in rent.

Just ten days before Tony’s arrest, Serano said the hydro was turned off in the apartment Biunno rented. Serano said he wondered if Tony had gone home to ask his elderly mother for money.

“I know he had something against his mother. I always said, ‘Why don’t you move home with your mother?’ He says, ‘My mother is garbage, a terrible woman, you know what I mean,'” Serano said.

Court documents obtained by Global News revealed a bench warrant had been issued for Tony after he failed to show up for a court appearance related to charges of assault and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of assault in 2011 and received a suspended sentence and two years probation.

Police said there are no remaining suspects wanted in connection with the assault.

This is Peel Region’s eighth alleged domestic murder and the 17th homicide of 2019.

— With files from Gabby Rodrigues

https://twitter.com/PeelPoliceMedia/status/1169048355835719682.