Estranged wife, friend stabbed while picking up belongings, say police

SanjulaDevi andFahmidaVelji-Visramhave beennamed as the two Calgary women stabbed to death Sunday night.

Devi was found dead in the doorway of a southeast Calgary homewhile Velji-Visramhad run out onto the lawn screaming and covered in blood, according to neighbours.

Velji-Visram, 29, collapsedand was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.

• Calgary stabbing charges pending after 2 women killed in Penbrooke

Devi, 36, was the estranged wife of the suspect, police said,and had gone withher friendto the southeast Calgary home to collect herbelongings.

The friend's husband,Rahim Visram,said when he got the call he didnt believe it was really his wife who had been killedeven when he had to go and identify her body.

A 'nightmare'

This is worst nightmare I've ever had, and the alarm hasn't gone off yet.- RahimVisram, husband of victim

There's no way that you can describe it. I felt at that point when I sat down and took a deep breath, you know, my alarm is going to go off, and I'm going to wake up," Visram said. "This is worst nightmare I've ever had, and the alarm hasn't gone off yet.

Visram said his wifewas a great person who was always there to help her friends and family.

There's still, you know, a part of me says I should have gone with her,but I have to accept what has happened in the past. There's no time machine; there's nothing that lets us go back.

The couple would have celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary next month.Visramsaid he doesn't want to know what happened inside the apartment.

The dispute between the husband and wife can always be resolved by talking," he said. "There's never a need for violence. I don't see a need for violence in that situation.

My heart goes out to the other victim's families and her having a little onethateven hurts even more.

Devi's identity was releasedTuesday afternoon, whileVelji-Visram was named by police Monday. Autopsies on both women concluded they died as a result of stabbing.

Charges pending

The suspect, who was arrested a short distance from the scene of the stabbings, is in hospital suffering from self-inflicted injuries.Investigators are waiting to interview the man, who they believe had ingested an unknownsubstance.

He is expected to becharged with two counts ofsecond-degree murder andaggravated assault, police said.

A third womanwho neighbours say is the landlord, or the daughter of the landlord was also injured after goingto the basement suite to investigate thedisturbance. Shewas taken to hospital, but was later released.

Neighbour Ebenezer Choebefusaid he knew the family well and described them asfriendly people.

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SamanthaRacette, who lives next door to the complex, laid abouquet of flowers to start a small memorial.

"She [Devi] was quiet, she was timid, very polite, [her daughter]was always very polite, the man himself was polite," saidRacette.

"I find it surprising given the gentleman himself was very timid."

Domestic abuse help available

Calgary policehadbeen called to the Penbrooke home where the two women were killed before after a domesticargumenton April 9, but no charges were laid.

Elsbeth Mehrer, with the Calgary YWCA, says help is available for women trying to leave a relationship and there are some agencies that can help women assess their situation.

"That way they have some real third party view of how dangerous this relationship could be [and] what is the risk that it's going to turn lethal," she said.

"And then to make sure they are accessing the right supports, including the Calgary Police Service which is tremendously supportive."

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Mehrersays the end of a relationship is usually a higher risk period.

Knife a 'weapon of choice'

In April, five young Calgarianswere stabbed to death while at a gathering to celebrate the end of post-secondary classes in the city.

Staff Sgt. DougAndrussaidit seems that knives are becoming the "weapon of choice" in Calgary.

"I can tell you that knives are easily obtainable and they're not illegal unless they're concealed," he said.

"As a result it seems to be a weapon of choice when we have these deadly confrontations."

Out of the 13 homicides in Calgary so far this year, nine deaths were the result of stabbing. The cause of death in the four other cases have not been released.