PUBLICATION: Toronto Star
DATE: 2005.04.03
SECTION: NEWS
PAGE: A15
SOURCE: Crime Reporter
BYLINE: Betsy Powell
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Shooting may be party gone bad; Councillor's sister still in hospital
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Two men facing dozens of weapons charges following last week's shooting of
Kathy Ford remain in custody after a bail hearing yesterday.
According to police, the accused men were "acquaintances" of the 45-year-old
sister of Toronto city Councillor Rob Ford. She was shot in the face in the
kitchen of her parents' upscale Etobicoke home.
Police have not confirmed what led to the shooting, Staff Sgt. Jack Kelly of
Etobicoke's 23 Division said yesterday.
"Kathy knows these two guys. It's a sad set of circumstances all away
around," Kelly said. Acting on a tip Friday morning, police arrested the men
near a black Jaguar that had been stolen from the Ford family home after the
shooting.
Police have looked at a number of possible scenarios after ruling out
attempted suicide, carjacking and home invasion. It may turn out to be a
"party that got out of hand," Kelly said.
Forensic identification officers have been examining the scene to determine
how many people were in the house at the time of the shooting.
Kelly said there is nothing to indicate that Ford, who remains in hospital,
will face any charges. "Kathy Ford is the victim here," Kelly said. Her
boyfriend, who wasn't at the home when the shooting occurred Thursday
afternoon, has been co-operating with detectives. Investigators have
interviewed Ford, who is still in hospital where she has undergone
reconstructive surgery. The gunfire left her with a wound on the top of the
head. "She was pretty groggy," Kelly said. Scott MacIntyre, 38, of Toronto,
has been charged with 18 firearm-related offences and possession of cocaine.
Michael Patania, 40, of no fixed address, has been charged with 22
firearm-related offences, two counts of fail to comply with probation and
fail to comply with recognizance. They are scheduled to appear in court
again on April 18.
Kelly said this is Ford's - and her children's - second encounter with
violence. Both children were on the property at the time of Thursday's
shooting.
In 1998, Ford's former husband, Ennio Stirpe, shot and killed her boyfriend
Michael Kiklas.
At the time, Kiklas was living with Ford and her two children, a daughter,
now aged 17, and an 11-year-old son.
Stirpe, then 49, was an aircraft mechanic and recovering heroin addict. He
was captured two days later in Whitby after a high-speed chase.
At his sentencing for manslaughter, Stirpe told the judge he had no beef
with Kiklas and that his real problem was with his estranged wife. Stirpe is
serving a 13-year sentence.
