A Toronto jury on Wednesday delivered a guilty verdict for a couple involved in the murder of their 53-year-old neighbor, filmmaker Reeyaz Habib. The defendants, 36-year-old Khoa Tran and his wife, Isabelle Nguyen, received the verdict shortly before 8:30 p.m. Tran was convicted of second-degree murder, while Nguyen was found guilty as an accessory to murder and for indignity to a human body.
The couple resided in a townhouse complex at 26 Western Battery Road, located directly below Habib's apartment. On June 6, 2023, screams were heard emanating from Habib's unit during the night. Tragically, his body was discovered in a trash compactor in the underground garage two days later, on June 8.
In the weeks leading up to the murder, tensions between the neighbors escalated. Habib had lodged complaints with Tran and Nguyen about BBQ smoke that was infiltrating his living space. This ongoing dispute took a sinister turn, ultimately leading to the fatal encounter.
During the trial, Tran, who testified that he had heard screaming, footsteps, and sounds resembling a fall from Habib's unit on the night of the incident, faced intense cross-examination. Crown attorney Anna Tenhouse questioned Tran about a significant phone call he had with two police officers on June 9, 2023—the day after Habib's body was found. Tenhouse pointed out that, while discussing the murder, the officers inquired about the screams, yet Tran had not mentioned them initially.
Tran maintained he was unsure if the screams were connected to the later discovery of Habib's body. He speculated that Habib might have been experiencing a “mental health crisis” or potentially filming a scene. Tran expressed disbelief that something so grave could occur in real life, stating, "These things happen in movies or in stories; they don't happen to me or to normal people." He had previously informed the police that such noises from Habib's unit occurred on average once a month.
After the jury reached its verdict, the presiding judge characterized the circumstances of Habib's murder as "the most serious nature." Subsequently, bail for both Tran and Nguyen was revoked as they prepare for sentencing, scheduled for September 9, 2026.
Tran is expected to receive an automatic life sentence, with the specifics of his parole eligibility to be determined at sentencing. In contrast, attorneys representing Nguyen indicated that her potential sentencing could vary widely, ranging from 18 months to approximately 5 or 6 years in prison.
With files from CityNews’ Shauna Hunt.
