Mohammed Shamji charged with first-degree murder in physician's death

A Toronto neurosurgeon with Ottawa roots has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, a family physician.

• Ontario medical community reeling from death of respected physician

ElanaShamji, 40,was reported missing on Wednesday night and her body was found in a suitcase in Vaughan, Ont., north of Toronto on Thursday.

Her husband, 40-year-old Mohammed Shamji was arrested Friday evening at a coffee shop in Mississauga.

Police saidthe couple, who had been married for 12 years, were having marital problems and believe the woman's death was "a deliberate act."

Shamji attended private school in Ottawa at Ashbury College, graduating in 1995. He later studied medicine at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., returning to the capital to do his residency at the Ottawa Hospital.

Death met with shock, grief

ElanaShamji's death has been met with "widespread shock and grief," said Dr. Nadia Alam, a family physician and anaesthesiologist in Georgetown, Ont.

"She was a big part of various physicianFacebookforums, so many docs knew of her, if not her directly," Alam said. "And many enjoyed her sense of humour, keen intelligence and kindness."

Dr. Virginia Walley, president of the Ontario Medical Association, said in a written statementSaturdaythat she was active in "many efforts to improve the healthcare system."

Farheen Imtiaz, whose son used to go to the sameschool as the physician's children, said the pair used to "girl talk" when volunteering together at school events, like pizza lunches and the Terry Fox Run.

"She was such a loving person in every role, whether it was a doctor, being a friend, being a mother," Imtiaz said. "She adored every second of motherhood."