Prosecutors have alleged that a Canadian couple killed their filmmaker neighbor after a dispute over a barbecue grill. Khoa Tran, 36, and his wife, Quynh Nhu Nguyen, 30, are standing trial in Toronto for the murder of Reeyaz Habib, 53, who was found dead in a garbage compactor wrapped in blankets and towels on June 8, 2023.
Tran faces charges of second-degree murder, while his wife has been charged as an accessory. Prosecuting attorney Nathaniel Smith said in his opening statements on Tuesday that Habib was killed following an ordinary neighborly dispute, as reported by the Toronto Star. Smith argued that tension existed between the couple and their upstairs neighbor because Habib had expressed annoyance with Tran's frequent barbecuing on his balcony, which filled Habib's unit with smoke.
A statement of agreed-upon facts stated that after the dispute, Tran agreed to text Habib before barbecuing so Habib could close his windows. Habib received a warning text on May 15, 2023, and another five days later. The two men later spoke in person, and Habib left 'a little bit angry' before slamming the door. Just a few weeks later, screams were heard throughout the condo complex.
Condo board member Daniel Del Mastro testified in court that he was awakened by a 'distressing yell' on June 6. Mastro said he could not tell where the yell came from, so he decided not to call 911 and went back to sleep. The couple's former roommate, Linh Hua, also testified that she was awoken to screams on the night of June 6. Nguyen dismissed the screams, attributing them to Habib's filming. Hua also told the court that Nguyen later urged her not to answer questions from the police and to say she was with them in their bedroom if asked by law enforcement.
On June 6, Habib's family and friends grew concerned after he failed to respond to texts and did not show up for a tennis match. Another neighbor, Hilda Aywaz, testified that she saw Tran exit Habib's unit and lock it. Two days later, a cleaner made the gruesome discovery of Habib's body. Habib was found wrapped in blankets and towels with notes that read: 'Can someone lift this into the trash? Very heavy.' Another note read: 'Please do not open, lots of sharp metal and glass inside from renovation (don't worry, we wrapped it in fabric).'
Aywaz said that when she heard a body was found, she grew concerned it was Habib's and texted him again. After police identified his body, Habib's nephew, Alykhan Jamal, testified that he went to the condo with police and noticed the kitchen was uncharacteristically clean. He added that the windows had been covered with long white drapes that had not been there before. Vincent Ching, another neighbor, testified that once police began investigating, Tran texted him: 'You don't think the police think I did it, do you?' Ching reflected in court: 'That line really stuck out to me. It just seemed odd in the moment.' Ching said he 'brushed off' the comment as a product of anxiety and assured Tran that he doubted the police were investigating him.
An autopsy was conducted, but Habib's cause of death was inconclusive due to the state his body was found. Habib was a writer and director who worked on films including Samir, Fat Lady Sriracha, Wide Right, and Humidor. The trial is expected to continue for up to three more weeks.
