Brothers found guilty in hate-motivated attack in 2018 that left Mississauga father near death

By Lucas Casaletto

Two brothers from Brampton have been found guilty in the brutal, hate-motivated 2018 beating of a Mississauga man in the community centre parking lot.

Adem and Janis Corhamzic were convicted of assault and aggravated assault on Tuesday but were found not guilty of attempted murder after a Peel Regional Police officer told the court it was one of the most violent things he had ever seen.

Mohammad Abu-Marzouk, now 43, suffered a dozen skull fractures and brain bleeding due to the vicious attack four years ago. The court also heard that the two brothers yelled racial slurs during the attack, and witnesses claimed that his wife, who wears a hijab, was kicked.

Abu-Marzouk’s children were present and witnessed the attack, with the family claiming the incident has deeply traumatized them. A fundraiser through “LaunchGood,” a platform specifically for the Muslim community, has raised over $109,000 (USD) since its launch in 2018.

The hearing is expected to begin on March 31. A sentencing hearing typically takes a couple of days, and then the judge usually decides at the end of it when the actual sentencing will happen.

“We saw the darkest side of humanity” 

He and his wife spoke to reporters outside the Brampton courthouse following Tuesday’s verdict, admitting nothing will erase the pain, and he’s encouraging every Canadian to stand against hate because there is no place for it.

“The pain will stay. Nothing will erase it,” Abu-Marzouk said. “It was very hard for me to see my family suffer as much as I suffered.”

“On July 15, 2018, we saw the darkest side of humanity, one that we would not wish upon anyone. That evening, we were doing an ordinary thing like any other Canadian family, enjoying a beautiful summer evening at our local community centre with our friends, when Mohammad was viciously attacked,” the couple continued.

“Today’s verdict offers some closure as we await sentencing. But we know we have a much longer road to recovery, for Mohammad, for our family, and collectively as Canadians. Islamophobia poses a dangerous threat in Canada, and we must all do more to fight it.”

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) welcomed the verdict.

“We need to change this pattern of neglect and hardship for survivors of such attacks,” said NCCM COO Dr. Nadia Hasan.

“These survivors deserve help, yet as a country, we have not done enough. We have lots of words and condolences, but there needs to be action. Ottawa needs to move forward with a support fund that helps those facing these challenges get back on their feet.”

The NCCM said Abu-Marzouk’s case represents “one case of many” throughout Canada as Islamophobia and hate-motivated attacks continue to rise.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today