Precious Charbonneau was pregnant, stabbed prior to fall, police say

ACanadian war veteran was responsible for the homicide of his pregnant wife who was stabbed several timesbefore being thrown off thebalcony of adowntown apartment building Sunday evening, Toronto police say.

Police believe PreciousCharbonneau was nine weekspregnant.

Robert Giblin, 43, and Charbonneau, 33, died after falling from the 21st floor of a buildingat 111 Raglan Ave. Giblinhad served with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, Department of National Defence officials have confirmed.

• 2 adults dead after fall from building near Bathurst and St. Clair

In a statement, the DNDsaid Giblinwas a sergeant andserved with theJoint Task Force Central (JTFC) based out of Denison Armoury in Toronto.

The federal department saidGiblinjoined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997. He deployed onHMCSRegina in 2003 and to Afghanistan in 2005 and 2007, and wasan intelligence operator.

"The loss of any soldier is devastating to the military community and our thoughts and condolences go out to Sgt. Robert Giblin's family and friends," read the statement.

Rishard Mohammed, who lives across the hall from the apartment where Giblin and his wife lived,told CBC News the incident "sent chills" down his spine.

'Kept to themselves'

"I thought they were nice, sometimes we shared a few jokes," Mohammed said. "But they kept to themselves."

Bonnie Hunter, another resident,told CBC News she thought she heard people yelling at each other "and then, nothing. I had a friend come over, and that's when I found out what happened."

"Obviously, it's horrible," Hunter said. "It's very disturbing when it happens in your backyard."

Some who knew Giblin and Charbonneau expressed their condolences online on Monday. "Rob my Brother. We were just chatting when you down in Halifax. Joking how us two old dogs were finally getting promoted. You kept me sane on our 6As and the SDIAC," one man wrote on Giblin's Facebook page. "Thanks for all the good times Bro. I'm devastated."

Another posted "RIP old friend" on the same page. On Charbonneau's Facebook page was a similar message.

"Rest in Peace Presha," one person wrote.

Police have sealed the couple's apartment, and an officer was standing guard outside Monday morning.

Autopsies are being performed today.