Photos emerge of Ontario murder suspects' arrest in Budapest
CTV News Toronto has obtained exclusive photos that show the moment two Ontario murder suspects were arrested in Budapest.
Oliver Karafa, 28, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25, both of Toronto, were taken into custody by Hungarian police on Saturday.
The pair were being sought by Hamilton police on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a man and the attempted murder of an unidentified woman earlier this year.
On Feb. 28, police in Hamilton responded to a shooting in the area of Arvin Avenue and Hilton Drive just after 7 p.m. At that time, police said they found a 26-year-old woman with a gunshot wound on the side of the road.
She was taken to hospital in serious condition. As officers were investigating, they said they discovered the body of a deceased man identified as Tyler Pratt, 39, of B.C. who was in the process of relocating to the Greater Toronto Area.
The two victims knew each other, but police have not disclosed the nature of their relationship.
Days after the shooting, Hamilton police announced that they believed Karafa and Li had fled the country to Eastern Europe. Police say the couple likely left Canada within 24 hours of the incident.
Hamilton Police issued warrants for Oliver Karafa, 28, and Yun (Lucy) Lu Li, 25, for 1st Degree Murder and Attempted Murder. (Supplied)
Following an international search, Hamilton police announced on Monday that the pair had been arrested in Hungary. Local police say the two were located walking down the street in an area of Budapest known as "Party District" when they were surrounded by uniformed officers.
Once the pair was in custody, police allege they found two fake Slovakian IDs.
Pratt's mother, Jonni Yeomans says she was relieved to learn of the arrests.
"When we found out what had happened immediately you go into shock."
Yeomans spoke to CTV News Toronto from British Columbia today. She says her son was in the process of moving to Ontario from B.C. with his new fiancé when he was shot and killed in February. She says Pratts fiancé, who was pregnant at the time, was also shot.
"She actually lost the baby," Yeomans said. "So not only did we lose out son, but we also lost one of our next generation."
The extradition process to bring the two back to Canada for trial is underway, with a preliminary extradition hearing now completed.
Karafa is the same man who was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed into a pole in Toronto in 2012 killing passenger David Chiang. Karafa was sentenced to five years in prison for impaired driving, criminal negligence causing death, and dangerous driving.
Li, on the other hand, was trying to become an influencer, according to a photographer who worked with her. She is a triplet and often did promotional shoots with her two sisters.
"The Mia triplets they were called," Scott Henderson told CTV News Toronto. "They were becoming quite successful as far as getting jobs for promoting products and things like that."
Henderson met Li in nightclubs in Toronto, and was shocked to hear she was involved in this case.
"She would be the last person, any one of the three of them would be the last people I would ever suspect of being involved in anything like this."
With files from CTV News Toronto's Abby Neufeld and CP24's Kerrisa Wilson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.