Neurosurgeon accused of murdering physician wife seeks bail

A Toronto neurosurgeon charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife and fellow physician, Dr. ElanaFric,is seeking bail.

Mohammed Shamjiwas at the 361 University Ave. courthouse Thursday along with his lawyers for a bail review. The details of the proceedings are under a publication ban.

• A physician killed, her neurosurgeon husband charged with murder: 'How could this all happen?'
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Shamji, 40,has been in custody since his arrest in December after Fric's body was discovered in a suitcase near an underpass in Vaughan, Ont.

The headline-making case shook Ontario's medical community andsparked dialogue about intimate partner violence.

Fric, a respected family physician and mother of three, metShamjiduring her medical school days at the University of Ottawa while he was there foraneurosurgeryresidency.

She was found to havedied from strangulation and blunt-force trauma.

One of those present at Thursday's court appearance was Michelle Vrbanek, who identified herself as one of Fric's cousins, and wore a purple ribbon to honour victims of domestic violence.

"It's important for me because she's not here, that somebody is here to help her and be here in support," Vrbanek said.

No decision was made regarding Shamji's bail Thursday. Submissions continue Friday.