Bombing suspect battled ex-wife
WINNIPEG • Court documents show a man accused of sending letter bombs to Winnipeg lawyers and his ex-wife has been in a decade-long battle with his former spouse that includes accusations of theft, impersonation and a wedding ring being flushed down a toilet.
Police allege Guido Amsel, 49, became so enraged over perceived mistreatment at the hands of his former wife, Iris Amsel, and lawyers who had been involved in the dispute, he sent explosive devices to their offices though Canada Post.
According to a sworn statement from police, an explosive compound was hidden in “a small grey voice recorder.”
Lawyer Maria Mitousis, 38, was seriously injured when one of the bombs blew up Friday. Police detonated two more devices over the weekend and warned justice officials more could be found in the next day or so.
The si t u at io n has unnerved many city residents and prompted dozens of reports of suspicious packages. City hall and a nearby Canada Post office were briefly evacuated Monday.
Court documents show the Amsels separated in 2004. They have a son, who was nine at the time.
Documents from the divorce proceedings show no unusual acrimony at first. Amsel and his wife owned a company involved in automotive repair. They initially split shares in the company — Amsel later bought out his ex-wife — and he was ordered to pay $500 a month in child support.
The divorce became bitter in 2010. Guido Amsel accused his ex-wife of siphoning more than $3 million from the company into hidden bank accounts before the divorce was finalized.
He also claimed she had flushed his wedding ring down a toilet and tried to break up his second marriage by calling and pretending to be a boyfriend of the new wife.
Iris Amsel has denied all the accusations.
Her lawyer was Mitousis, who was taken to hospital in critical condition, but has since been upgraded to stable. A source in the legal community said Mitousis had surgery and lost one of her hands.
Guido Amsel’s son, Kyle, wrote in a 2013 affidavit he did not have a good relationship with his father, in part because “he has been threatening towards me when I do not agree with him that my mother stole several million dollars from their company.”
Guido Amsel had his wages garnished on at least one occasion. Iris Amsel also launched a lawsuit in 2010 against him and others over the company she once shared with him.
One of the bombs detonated by police was found at an-
Across our community I think it is safe to say we are reeling
other law firm involved with the case and the second was at a small automotive business north of downtown with ties to Iris Amsel.
Guido Amsel was being held in custody on charges including attempted murder pending a court date Tuesday. Police said they were continuing to search a business and a residence linked to the suspect.
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said police likely saved lives with their work over the weekend tracking down a suspect and taking precautions with any suspicious packages.
“The events that started on Friday are harrowing. Across our community I think it is safe to say we are reeling, as Winnipeg, our home, has always seemed impervious to such ruthless, vengeful attacks,” Bowman said Monday.