Skip to Main content

2.66°^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

Vaisakhi match at BC Place, Whitecaps win thriller against Portland Timbers

On Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps played the Vaisakhi match at the iconic BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. The team dedicated its April 4 match to Vaisakhi and for this reason, the match against the Portland Timbers was named the Vaisakhi match.Bhangra performance by Naam Bhangra, Anmol Rattan and YBC Bhangra at BC Place stadium.During the Vaisakhi celebrations, performances related to Bhangra and Punjabi music were seen during the pre-game and half-time. More than 24,400 spectators had arrived to watch this match.Bhangra performance by Naam bhangra, Anmol Rattan and UBC bhangra during the

vancouver-island-man-sentenced-to-more-than-nine-years-for-child-exploitation-offences

Vancouver Island man sentenced to more than nine years for child exploitation offences

A man from Tofino has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences involving minors he contacted online, according to police. In a statement, Port Alberni RCMP said Loki Tchir was sentenced on March 28 in Port Alberni on charges that include possession of child sexual abuse material and sexual interference involving a minor. Police said the sentence also imposes long-term restrictions following his release, including limits on employment, contact with minors and attendance at certain public places for a period of 15 years. According to RCMP

charges-approved-after-surrey-driver-struck-by-bullet-in-march-24-incident

Charges approved after Surrey driver struck by bullet in March 24 incident

A 42-year-old man is facing multiple criminal charges after a driver was struck by a bullet in Surrey on March 24, according to a release from Surrey Police Service. Police say officers responded around 10:56 p.m. to a reported motor vehicle collision with injuries in the 10300 block of University Drive. According to Surrey Police Service, investigators later determined the victim had been driving northbound on University Avenue when they were allegedly hit by a Gun Shot. BC Emergency Health Services transported the injured person to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Th

carney-outlines-51b-federal-plan-for-local-infrastructure-housing-and-health-projects

CanadaApr 07, 2026

Carney outlines $51B federal plan for local infrastructure, housing and health projects

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will invest $51 billion over the next decade to address infrastructure gaps across Canada, with funding directed toward municipal projects, housing and health care facilities. Speaking in Brampton on Tuesday, Carney detailed how the Build Communities Strong Fund, first announced in the 2025 federal budget, will allocate $27.8 billion for core infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water and sewer systems. A further $6 billion is earmarked for community-level projects, including recreation centres. According to the Prime Minister’s of

good-samaritan-killed-two-injured-in-highway-16-crash-near-witset-police-say

Good Samaritan killed, two injured in Highway 16 crash near Witset, police say

A man who stopped to help a stranded driver on a northern British Columbia highway was killed when an SUV struck a parked pickup, according to BC Highway Patrol. Police said the crash happened at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday on Highway 16 near Witset after a grey flatbed pickup pulled over due to mechanical issues. Two passing drivers stopped and got out to assist. Investigators say a Chevrolet SUV then collided with the stationary pickup and the people outside the vehicles. A 60-year-old man from Witset was pronounced dead at the scene. A 45-year-old man from Calgary and the 42-year-old driver of

Related News

Vaisakhi match at BC Place, Whitecaps win thriller against Portland Timbers

Vaisakhi match at BC Place, Whitecaps win thriller against Portland Timbers

On Saturday, the Vancouver Whitecaps played the Vaisakhi match at the iconic BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. The team dedicated its April 4 match to Vaisakhi and for this reason, the match against the Portland Timbers was named the Vaisakhi match.Bhangra performance by Naam Bhangra, Anmol Rattan and YBC Bhangra at BC Place stadium.During the Vaisakhi celebrations, performances related to Bhangra and Punjabi music were seen during the pre-game and half-time. More than 24,400 spectators had arrived to watch this match.Bhangra performance by Naam bhangra, Anmol Rattan and UBC bhangra during the

Vancouver Island man sentenced to more than nine years for child exploitation offences

Vancouver Island man sentenced to more than nine years for child exploitation offences

A man from Tofino has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences involving minors he contacted online, according to police. In a statement, Port Alberni RCMP said Loki Tchir was sentenced on March 28 in Port Alberni on charges that include possession of child sexual abuse material and sexual interference involving a minor. Police said the sentence also imposes long-term restrictions following his release, including limits on employment, contact with minors and attendance at certain public places for a period of 15 years. According to RCMP

Charges approved after Surrey driver struck by bullet in March 24 incident

Charges approved after Surrey driver struck by bullet in March 24 incident

A 42-year-old man is facing multiple criminal charges after a driver was struck by a bullet in Surrey on March 24, according to a release from Surrey Police Service. Police say officers responded around 10:56 p.m. to a reported motor vehicle collision with injuries in the 10300 block of University Drive. According to Surrey Police Service, investigators later determined the victim had been driving northbound on University Avenue when they were allegedly hit by a Gun Shot. BC Emergency Health Services transported the injured person to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Th

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital