Police investigate deadly stabbing at southeast home

CTV Calgary: Police investigate double fatality Two women are dead and a third is in hospital following an incident at a Penbrook home on the weekend. Stephanie Brennan reports.

Calgary police are investigating a double stabbing at a home in the southeast community of Penbrook that claimed the lives of two women and say charges are pending.

Police were called to a home in the 6400 block of Penbrooke Drive S.E. at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday for reports of a stabbing.

They found one woman, in her 30s, dead at the scene and neighbours trying to save the life of another. The injured woman was rushed to hospital where she later died.

“The victim had made arrangements to attend the residence to pick up property, that is the estranged victim, she went to the residence with a friend of hers, her friend’s mother and a young girl. It was while they were in the residence, in the basement suite, that a confrontation occurred, where both victims were stabbed,” said S/Sgt. Doug Andrus of the CPS Homicide Unit.

A third woman was stabbed in the back and EMS transported her to hospital in serious, non-life threatening condition. She was treated for her injuries and has since been released.

Andrus says the third victim also resided at the residence and was living on the main level as the Landlord. “She tried to intervene and as a result she received a stab wound.”

Police say the suspect fled the scene but was caught just before 8:00 p.m. in southeast Calgary.

He was taken to hospital with self-inflicted injuries and remains in stable condition.

“It appears he ingested some type of fluid and was transported to hospital to be treated for those injuries,” said S/Sgt. Doug Andrus.

An autopsy was completed on the woman who died in hospital and she has been identified as 29-year-old Fahmida Velji-Visram of Calgary.

Police confirm she died as a result of a stabbing.

An autopsy on the other woman will be conducted on Tuesday and police say she is the estranged wife of the suspect.

“They were not living in the same residence. The estranged spouse moved out of the residence approximately a month ago.” said S/Sgt. Andrud. “They were called to that residence on April 9 in response to a verbal argument. At that time there was no indication of a criminal offence and one of the parties indicated that they were leaving the residence.”

A vehicle was found abandoned behind an industrial building in the 4900 block of 102 Avenue S.E. and is believed to belong to the suspect.

Neighbours and first responders say they did what they could to help out.

“Once we got there, there was a younger girl out here sitting by the fence, barely conscious,” said Nick Berthiaume.

Berthiaume and his girlfriend were among the first people to arrive at the scene. “One of the daughters said her mom was around the corner and she was stabbed too. I don’t think she was still with us when I got to her.”

Investigators say two counts of second-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault are pending.