A man accused in the death of his wife earlier this week is now facing second-degree murder charges.
Ottawa Police upgraded charges against Demetrios Angelis, 38, from manslaughter to second-degree murder yesterday, citing “enough evidence to satisfy the definition of second-degree murder,” according to Ottawa Police Const. Jean-Paul Vincelette.
He did not say what evidence led investigators to upgrade the charges.
On Sunday, police responding to a 9-1-1 call at 30 McEwen Ave. discovered the body of Lien Angelis, 42. The incident was Ottawa’s fifth homicide of the year.
Angelis appeared briefly in video remand court yesterday. The suspect, dressed in an orange prison-issued jumpsuit, kept his head down and only spoke in response to the judge. He addressed the judge as “sir” and thanked him before leaving.
The case was adjourned until June 18.
Outside the courthouse, defence attorney Jean-Marc Chenier, who represents Angelis, said he had only learned of the new charge against his client hours before the appearance and had not yet received the disclosure.
While he didn’t have information about why the charges have been laid, he said his client is “devastated, obviously” about the whole incident.
“He’s very worried about his children,” said Chenier. “He hasn’t seen them since the weekend.”
He confirmed that Angelis, who is being held at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre on Innes Road, had suffered injuries, including “a lot of facial scratches and injuries to other parts of his body.”
Angelis intends on seeking bail, he said.
Chenier said his client and the deceased were going through a divorce, but said he didn’t have any more information.
The couple’s children are now in custody of Children’s Aid Society.
–tracey.tong@metronews.ca
