A neurosurgeon accused in the December 2016 murder of his physician wife was denied bail in a Toronto courtroom on Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Mohammed Shamji faces one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Dr. Elana Fric-Shamji, whose body was found in a suitcase by the side of a road in Kleinburg on Dec. 1.

Investigators previously said that they believe the family physician, who was strangled and beaten, was killed in the couple’s North York home that they shared with their three children sometime between the night of Nov. 30 and the morning of Dec. 1.

Mohammed Shamji , who is a former Toronto Western Hospital employee and University of Toronto faculty member, was arrested in Mississauga the day after his wife’s body was discovered.

After Superior Court Justice Michael Brown delivered his decision on Wednesday afternoon, Shamji mouthed a few words to his parents and gave them a quick wave.

A few of his family members were seen wiping away tears outside the courtroom moments later.

Shamji has been in custody at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton since he was arrested about eight months ago.

Details about the judge's decision on bail cannot be disclosed due to a court-ordered publication ban.

Speaking outside the courthouse on Wednesday, one of Shamji's lawyers Liam O'Connor said he is "not disappointed one way or the other" with the decision.

"It’s a good, solid judgment. It’s a good judge. I’d bring that bail hearing in front of that judge any day of the week and the week after," he said. “It’s a tough case.”

He added that his client has an "enormous" amount of support from members of the community.

“I can tell you from the day this charge was laid, I’ve been inundated with support from the doctor’s friends, from family, from patients,” he said.

"This is a tragedy and there is three children suffering I’m sure, in Windsor. I have no doubt of that but I haven’t seen a story where there wasn’t a second side to that story and that story will be told I assure you."

O'Connor said a preliminary inquiry in the case will begin next week.