Man accused in frying pan attack on Ont. woman who later vanished seeks bail

The Brampton man accused of aggravated assault in a frying pan attack against Ontario woman Elnaz Hajtamiri, weeks prior to her disappearance, is seeking bail.

Harshdeep Binner, 26, expressed his desire to seek bail ahead of a new trial, a week after a Newmarket judge ordered a mistrial in the midst of Binner’s two-week jury trial.

The mistrial ruling by Justice Vanessa Christie came following an application from Binner’s lawyer, Uma Kancharla. Defence counsel argued the Crown failed to provide disclosure, jeopardizing Binner’s right to a fair trial.

Binner is accused of assaulting Hajtamiri with a frying pan in late 2021, and possession of a stolen vehicle police say was used in the attack on the Richmond Hill woman in her underground parking garage.

He has been in custody since his arrest in September 2022, and was midway through his two-week trial. He is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a stolen car used in an alleged attack on Hajtamiri December 20, 2021, in her Richmond Hill parking garage.

Hajtamiri’s family said she was hit in the head with a frying pan and was taken to the hospital for treatment that required roughly 40 stitches.

Police in York Region believe Binner, and his co-accused Riyasat Singh, who pleaded guilty in late 2022, attacked Hajtamiri in a failed abduction attempt before fleeing the scene in a stolen Mazda.

Following the recommendation of police, Hajtamiri went into hiding with family in Wasaga Beach. Shortly after, on Jan. 12, 2022, provincial police say three men posing as police officers claiming to have a warrant for her arrest kidnapped Hajtamiri. Loved ones say they have not seen or heard from her since that night. Police have since presumed her dead.

Binner is scheduled to return to court later this week in the Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket for his bail hearing. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.