Cynara Amiee Ali, 16, had mental and physical disabilities. She was killed in her Toronto apartment in February, 2011.Toronto Police Service
More than a year ago, a 16-year-old girl with severe mental and physical disabilities died after what her mother told police was a home invasion.
On Friday, police said Cynara Amiee Ali's mother, Cindy Ann Sherry Ali, was facing seven charges in relation to the death, including manslaughter.
On a Saturday morning in February, 2011, police responded to the family's Scarborough apartment and found the teenager without vital signs. She was initially in critical condition in hospital but died there the next day.
Her mother told officers that shortly before, two black men with heavy Jamaican accents, wearing suits and overcoats, forced their way into her Scarborough home after knocking on the door. One man, armed with a gun, forced Ms. Ali to accompany him as he opened various doors, she said. The other man had stayed with her daughter, police said they were told.
At the time, it was said that the men were looking for "a specific item."
In addition to a manslaughter charge, Ms. Ali, 41, is facing two counts of fabricating evidence, attempting to obstruct justice, mischief, criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Police say they won't be revealing the actual cause of death because the case is before the courts. Ms. Ali appeared in court on Friday morning.