Skip to Main content

9.09°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

May 29, 2024 7:49 PM - The Canadian Press

DNA match leads to conviction 22 years after B.C. sexual assault

Share On

dna-match-leads-to-conviction-22-years-after-b-c-sexual-assault

Richmond RCMP say Christopher Sharafi, also known as Mohammed Mendi Sharafi, was found guilty last October, and in April he was sentenced to five years in prison for the two offences dating back to December 2001.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Police in Metro Vancouver say a DNA match led to a man's arrest and conviction more than 22 years after he broke into a woman's home and sexually assaulted her.

Richmond RCMP say Christopher Sharafi, also known as Mohammed Mendi Sharafi, was found guilty last October, and in April he was sentenced to five years in prison for the two offences dating back to December 2001.

The Mounties say the victim reported waking up to find a man standing in her room, and he then climbed into her bed and assaulted her as she tried to fight back.

They say in a statement that police collected and submitted DNA evidence for analysis, but the suspect remained unidentified until 2015, when the sample matched a known offender in the national DNA databank.

RCMP say Sharafi had been ordered to provide a DNA sample as part of a previous unrelated conviction and the Mounties' forensic laboratory confirmed the match.

They say Sharafi has now been found guilty of break and enter and sexual assault and sentenced to five years in prison for each offence, to be served concurrently.

Latest news

man-charged-after-liquid-thrown-at-u-s-rep-ilhan-omar-during-minneapolis-event

WorldJan 29, 2026

Man charged after liquid thrown at U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during Minneapolis event

U.S. federal prosecutors have laid charges against a Minnesota man accused of throwing a liquid on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a public event in Minneapolis earlier this week, an incident authorities are treating as an assault on a sitting lawmaker. Court documents filed by the U.S. Justice Department say Anthony Kazmierczak was arrested following the incident and is charged with forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating a member of Congress while she was performing official duties. According to a sworn affidavit, investigators later determined the substance spray

train-pedestrian-fatality-under-investigation-in-langley

Train-pedestrian fatality under investigation in Langley

Police in Langley are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train Thursday morning in the Metro Vancouver region. According to the RCMP, the collision occurred shortly before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Glover Road and Billy Brown Road, an area that includes rail lines used for both freight and passenger traffic. Emergency crews responded quickly and attempted life-saving measures, but the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the identity of the victim or details about how the incident occurred. Investigators remained in the area

kamloops-rcmp-mark-fourth-anniversary-of-unsolved-2022-rural-homicide

Kamloops RCMP mark fourth anniversary of unsolved 2022 rural homicide

The BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit is marking the fourth anniversary of the homicide of 18-year-old Jagraj Dhinsa, whose death in rural Kamloops remains unsolved. Dhinsa was found deceased in a parking lot along Chilcotin Road in January 2022. Police have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding his death, but confirm the case continues to be actively investigated by the Southeast District Major Crime Unit. Staff Sergeant Jason Smart, unit commander of the SED MCU, said the investigation remains a priority for police and the justice system. He described the

west-coast-pipeline-discussed-as-carney-meets-alberta-and-b-c-premiers-in-ottawa

West Coast pipeline discussed as Carney meets Alberta and B.C. premiers in Ottawa

A proposed West Coast pipeline was among several major energy issues discussed during a meeting this week between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia. The talks brought together Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby in Ottawa, where long standing disagreements over pipeline expansion have often strained relations between the two provinces. Despite those differences, Eby described Wednesday’s meeting as constructive and said the tone was “borderline friendly.” Eby has previously voiced opposition to a new pipeline to the B.C. coa

six-charged-after-calgary-police-break-up-vehicle-theft-spree-linked-to-autobody-shop-break-ins

AlbertaJan 29, 2026

Six charged after Calgary police break up vehicle theft spree linked to autobody shop break-ins

Calgary police say six people are facing a combined total of more than 100 charges following an investigation into a series of vehicle thefts and commercial break-ins across the city. Investigators say the case began in December after officers became aware that a repeat offender, who was on probation at the time, was allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle. That discovery led police to uncover what they describe as an organized pattern of thefts over a two-week period. According to police, multiple autobody shops were targeted, with suspects breaking into several businesses to steal vehicl

Related News

Train-pedestrian fatality under investigation in Langley

Train-pedestrian fatality under investigation in Langley

Police in Langley are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train Thursday morning in the Metro Vancouver region. According to the RCMP, the collision occurred shortly before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Glover Road and Billy Brown Road, an area that includes rail lines used for both freight and passenger traffic. Emergency crews responded quickly and attempted life-saving measures, but the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the identity of the victim or details about how the incident occurred. Investigators remained in the area

Kamloops RCMP mark fourth anniversary of unsolved 2022 rural homicide

Kamloops RCMP mark fourth anniversary of unsolved 2022 rural homicide

The BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit is marking the fourth anniversary of the homicide of 18-year-old Jagraj Dhinsa, whose death in rural Kamloops remains unsolved. Dhinsa was found deceased in a parking lot along Chilcotin Road in January 2022. Police have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding his death, but confirm the case continues to be actively investigated by the Southeast District Major Crime Unit. Staff Sergeant Jason Smart, unit commander of the SED MCU, said the investigation remains a priority for police and the justice system. He described the

West Coast pipeline discussed as Carney meets Alberta and B.C. premiers in Ottawa

West Coast pipeline discussed as Carney meets Alberta and B.C. premiers in Ottawa

A proposed West Coast pipeline was among several major energy issues discussed during a meeting this week between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia. The talks brought together Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby in Ottawa, where long standing disagreements over pipeline expansion have often strained relations between the two provinces. Despite those differences, Eby described Wednesday’s meeting as constructive and said the tone was “borderline friendly.” Eby has previously voiced opposition to a new pipeline to the B.C. coa

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital