MONTREAL: Toronto’s homicide unit has taken over an investigation into the “suspicious” deaths of Canadian pharmaceutical billionaire Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, police said on Sunday after finding they died of strangulation.
“The cause of death for both deceased was ligature neck compression,” Toronto police said in a statement after post-mortem examinations of the bodies of the 75-year-old Apotex chairman and his 70-year-old wife.
“Toronto Police Service Homicide has taken the lead in this suspicious death investigation,” the police said, without further details.
At 11:44 am on Friday, officers responded to an emergency call at the couple’s home on Old Colony Road, in a tony neighbourhood of Toronto.
Local media cited a police source as saying the Shermans’ bodies were found hanging from a railing around a basement pool, the theory being that the Apotex chairman killed his wife Honey, hung her body and then hanged himself by the pool’s edge.
But their family strongly refuted that version of the events.
“Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths,” the family said in a statement.
“We are shocked and think it’s irresponsible that police sources have reportedly advised the media of a theory which neither their family, their friends nor their colleagues believe to be true.”
They called for a “thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation,” urging the media to refrain from reporting until the investigation is complete.
There were apparently no signs that the deaths were premeditated or that either of the Shermans was suffering from depression. The couple had planned to spend the year-end holidays with friends in Florida.
Linda Frum, a member of the Canadian Senate and friend of the couple, dismissed the idea that Barry Sherman could have harmed his wife.
“He adored her... He was a gentle, good man,” she was quoted as saying in The New York Times.
The newspaper reported that, despite their wealth, they flew economy class and their home was relatively modest, while Barry Sherman drove an old car.
Apotex, which Sherman founded in 1974, confirmed the deaths. Local media outlets reported that he was not seen at the company’s offices on Thursday. — AFP
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