CW: intimate partner violence
As CBC has reported, Al-Lami was on active probation at the time of the killings Monday, after being charged in 2024 with threatening in an email to harm his ex-wife and her current partner.
Court records obtained by CBC show Al-Lami was adamant to be tried by a judge after being offered a peace bond to resolve the charges, because he thought he was going to be proved right.
In December 2025, Al-Lami's defence lawyer brought an application before Ontario Court to be removed as counsel against Al-Lami's wishes, according to records obtained by CBC. Another lawyer who appeared on behalf of Al-Lami's lawyer told Justice Julie Bourgeois that Al-Lami had made several allegations against his defence lawyer and threatened to report him to the Law Society of Ontario.
"It's at a point in the relationship where it is quite clear that counsel cannot maintain a healthy, trusting relationship with the client, and as a result, can't properly represent the client, and would only frankly endanger both parties by remaining as counsel," said the other lawyer.
...
"Excuse me excuse me," interrupted Justice Bourgeois. "You were offered a peace bond? And you said no [emphasis hers]?"