Trial begins for Ontario woman accused of murder in which victim was found in suitcase

On the opening time of a high-profile Ontario execution trial, the Crown alleged the accused had enlisted the assistance of the begetter of her kid to dispose of a assemblage which was yet recovered successful a suitcase.

Carita Jackson is connected proceedings for the alleged second-degree execution of Varsha Gajula, a Caledon woman, whose assemblage was recovered successful a suitcase successful Toronto during the summertime of 2021.

In his opening code to the jury, adjunct Crown lawyer Scott Frost said constabulary received a telephone astir a suspicious suitcase that was located astatine the backmost of a concern astatine 1530 Keele Street connected Aug. 25, 2021. When officers arrived, they recovered Gajula’s assemblage stuffed wrong the suitcase.

An autopsy revealed the 41-year-old pistillate died from caput and cervix injuries, with signs of blunt unit trauma and aggregate stab wounds.

Frost said that aft Toronto constabulary officers conducted an extended video canvass, they were led to an flat gathering astatine 101 Humber Blvd South, little than 2 kilometres from wherever the suitcase was found.

The Crown alleged that 2 days anterior to the find of the body, 2 tenants removed the suitcase from the gathering connected Humber Boulevard.

Frost said a antheral named Andre Bartley took the suitcase to a adjacent Value Village earlier different man, Christopher Daley, picked it up from the Value Village and walked it to the concern connected Keele Street adjacent to a dumpster wherever the suitcase was yet discovered.

The Crown told jurors that Daley, 1 of the 2 men, volition beryllium 1 of respective witnesses to testify.

“You volition perceive astir his engagement successful disposing of the suitcase and that helium enlisted the assistance of Bartley to unknowingly assistance with the disposal,” Frost said. “It is the Crown’s theory, Jackson killed Gajula, near the flat gathering the adjacent time to flight detention portion Daley coordinated the cleanup.”

Frost besides said Daley shared a kid with Jackson and successful the months starring up to Garjula’s murder, Daley had been convicted of assaulting Jackson and had a no-contact bid with her.

“You volition perceive Daley is nary alien to the transgression justness system. For his relation successful disposing of the body, Daley pled blameworthy and was convicted of accessory aft the fact,” Frost told jurors.

Frost said connected the greeting of Aug. 21, Gajula was seen being dropped disconnected astatine 101 Humber Blvd. Gajula was a predominant visitant to the gathering and was fto successful by different tenant. Jackson lived successful flat 1402. She arrived location earlier 10 a.m. that time and Gajula was already successful the building.

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Frost said video surveillance from the gathering volition amusement Gajula was past seen getting disconnected the elevator connected the 14th level turning near astatine astir 2:17 p.m. Jackson was seen that time connected video getting disconnected the elevator connected the 14th floor, and besides turning left.

“Jackson was not seen again connected video until the pursuing greeting erstwhile she near the gathering connected a bicycle with Christopher Daley,” said Frost.

Frost told jurors that, aft executing a hunt warrant successful Jackson’s 14th-floor apartment, humor was detected connected the floors, cabinets and walls. The assemblage is expected to perceive DNA profiles generated utilizing swabs taken from the flat volition amusement that it is apt Gajula’s.

Jackson was arrested connected Aug. 30, 2021, 5 days aft her assemblage was discovered successful the suitcase.

The archetypal witnesser to instrumentality the basal was Det. Const. Jennifer Taborski from the Toronto police’s homicide unit.

The assemblage saw video surveillance including video of the civilians who discovered the suitcase, the movements of Daley and Bartley, and Gajula arriving astatine the Humber Blvd. gathering connected the time she was past seen.

The assemblage has not heard however oregon if Jackson and Gajula knew 1 another.

Jackson has pleaded not guilty.