Gurpreet Ronald charged with 1st-degree murder of Jagtar Gill

Gurpreet Ronald, a 34-year-old married mother of two, has been charged with first-degree murder after Jagtar Gill was found stabbed to death in her Barrhaven home more than two months ago.

Gill, 43, was found dead in her home by her husband and15-year-old daughter on Jan. 29 one day after she had hernia surgery, and also the day of her17thwedding anniversaryin the living room of her home at174BramblingWay.

A police source told CBC News DNA evidence was used to link Ronald to the homicide. Ronald wasunder police surveillance early on in the homicide investigationandofficers obtained DNA samples without her knowledge, the source said.Ronaldwas later asked by policeto give a blood sample voluntarily.

Ronald was arrested Tuesday morning and contacted a lawyer.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Ronald's firstappearance in Ottawa court took place just after 11a.m. Wednesday after being delayed several times that day, and about 30 of Gill's friends and family members gathered at the courthouse to watch. Among them were Gill's widower and their children.

Ronald's next court appearance is scheduled for April 16, by video link.

Sources told CBC News Ronald is not a member of the Gill family, and that she was arrested Tuesdayafternoon atGreenbankPolice Station after policeasked her to show up thereof her own accord.

Ronald lives on Towhee Place, one street over from the Gill family home. Sources said Ronald works for OC Transpowith Gill's husband,Bhupinderpal, and that Ronald and Bhupinderpalwere close.

Four days after the homicide, someone using Gurpreet Ronald's Facebook account listed under her maiden name, GurpreetBrar wrote a message of condolence on a newspaper's postabout Gill's death.

Gill's death was Ottawa's first homicide of 2014.

She is survived by her husbandand their three children, aged 15, 10 and 8.