Charges laid in Coquitlam double-murder

A Richmond man is facing two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly killing his former girlfriend and a companion in Coquitlam last week.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team announced the charges against 54-year old Maurio “Mo” Saheli Wednesday.

IHIT did not release the identity of the victims – a new policy that apparently just took effect.

Coquitlam RCMP was called to a house on Alpine Lane just after  2:00 p.m. on July 16, after receiving reports of two people found dead in a residence.

 “It took several hours for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team investigators to positively identify the victims in this incident and once identified several days to ensure the families had been notified of this tragedy,” Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said in a news release.

She only identified the victims as a 56-year-old Coquitlam woman and an Israeli man who arrived in Canada on July 14, 2015.
“It is alleged Saheli had a previous relationship with the deceased woman,” Ashton said.

“What was key to this investigation was the location and arrest of the suspect. This took coordination of efforts in three jurisdictions and the outcome has been successful.”

The house is owned by a person named Iryna Gabalis, according to B.C. land title records.

Coquitlam RCMP Supt. Sean Maloney thanked IHIT for the quick arrest of a suspect.
“There is a long way to go in this file and our people will continue to work with IHIT to move the investigation forward, but today’s news goes a long way to restoring a sense of safety and security to the neighbourhood surrounding the scene of the crime as well as the community at large,” he said.
Saheli is scheduled to appear in court July 23.