Manitoba

Guido Amsel: Accused Winnipeg bomber to seek bail ASAP

Guido Amsel and his lawyer made a brief appearance in court on Friday, saying they plan to seek bail as soon as possible.

Amsel, 49, is charged with three counts of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault

Guido Amsel: Accused Winnipeg bomber to seek bail ASAP

9 years ago
Duration 1:22
Guido Amsel and his lawyer made a brief appearance in court on Friday, saying they plan to seek bail as soon as possible. CBC's Alana Cole reports.

Guido Amsel and his lawyer made a brief appearance in court on Friday, saying they plan to seek bail as soon as possible.

Amsel will be back in court Tuesday to set a date for a hearing. In the meantime, Amsel will remain in custody at Headingley Correctional Institution. His lawyer, Martin Glazer, said Amsel is in isolation at the jail west of Winnipeg.

"He's locked up 23 and a half hours a day without any phone calls, that concerns us. Here is a man that has never been in custody before and he's being treated quite harshly and we are hoping that the authorities will change that," said lawyer Martin Glazer outside court.

"He's in a cell by himself.. He doesn't see anyone or talk to anyone for 23 and a half hours a day. So far he hasn't been able to call his wife."

Lawyer Martin Glazer speaks to reporters outside the Winnipeg courthouse on Friday. (CBC)
Amsel, 49, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, one count of aggravated assault and several other charges relating to the possession of explosives as well as a loaded firearm.

Glazer said he is still waiting for disclosure of the case.

"Based on the evidence so far, there's very, very little evidence from what I've seen. I think the investigation is incomplete. I think police were under pressure to arrest someone and they arrested my client and jumped the gun."

Amsel denies allegations against him  Glazer said he wants to get back to work as soon as possible. He's anxious about his business. 

Lawyer Maria Mitousis, 38,  lost her right hand and badly hurt the left while opening one of those packages on July 3 at her River Avenue office. She also suffered injuries to her face, chest and thighs and underwent 12 hours of surgery.

Mitousis used to represent Amsel's ex-wife, Iris Amsel, in divorce proceedings that began in 2004.

A package intended for Amsel's ex-wife was detonated by police July 4 at a business on Washington Avenue. No one was injured.

The third bomb was detonated by police near the law office of Orle Bargen and Davidson on Stradbrook Avenue on July 5. The lawyer who represented him in the divorce proceedings used to work there but no longer does.