Accused killer granted bail
2010 conviction overturned, Ottawa man free pending new trial
A former public servant accused of murdering his wife in front of their two children in June 2008 was granted bail on Friday as he awaits a second trial.
A jury convicted Demetrios Angelis of second-degree murder in 2010, but in February the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered a new trial.
“He is looking forward to his trial and he is looking forward to establishing his innocence,” defence lawyer Matt Webber said after the bail decision Friday morning.
Angelis’s father, Theodore, smiled, calling Webber and co-counsel Howard Krongold “No. 1 lawyers.”
He said he is looking forward to having dinner with his son.
Hours later, Angelis emerged from the cellblock without shackles or handcuffs and hugged his father.
He did not comment as he walked out of the courthouse.
Angelis, 43, has spent more than 3 1/2 years in custody since his wife, Lien Le Angelis, died. She was 42.
The couple was headed for divorce but still lived together when they got into a violent fight on a Sunday morning in June 2008, the appeal court detailed in its ruling.
“He accepts that he caused her death during a physical altercation.
The two principal issues at trial were whether he acted in self-defence, and whether he had the intent to commit murder,” the ruling stated.
The appeal court found that the trial judge made two errors in instructing the jury: failing to put forward a defence of provocation and by improperly instructing them on his conduct after the killing.
Angelis waited at least three hours before he called 911 to report his wife’s death.
He wrapped her body in a rug, put makeup on to hide his injuries and took his children to church.
The ruling also detailed how, two months before she was killed, Angelis found out his wife had been having an affair for 13 of the 16 years they were married. There had been no history of abuse in their relationship.
His new trial is scheduled to begin in November 2014. Angelis was out of custody during his first trial in the fall of 2010 on a $50,000 bond.
On Friday, Justice Hugh McLean refused the Crown’s request to increase the bond as he ordered bail.
But McLean did request that Angelis’s father — now 79 — affirm that he would inform the court if, at any point, he feels he can no longer act as a surety because of his age.
Webber also told his client that, should his father find himself in a position that he cannot speak, he will be responsible to contact the authorities.
“Yes, of course,” Angelis told the court.
As part of the conditions of his release, Angelis must check in with Ottawa police once a week.