A Toronto couple found guilty in the murder case of beloved filmmaker Reeyaz Habib is set to be sentenced this Wednesday. Khoa Tran faces a conviction of second-degree murder, while his wife Isabelle Nguyen was found guilty of being an accessory to murder and for treating Habib’s body with indignity.
The tragic discovery of Habib’s body, aged 56, in a garbage compactor at a townhouse complex in Liberty Village shook the community in June 2023. The motive behind the brutal killing was believed to have stemmed from a dispute triggered by barbecue smoke wafting from Tran’s apartment beneath Habib’s residence.
During the court proceedings, emotional victim impact statements were shared by friends and family, painting a vivid picture of the anguish and trauma they have endured since Habib’s untimely and tragic death. Habib’s dear friend, Pat Smith, expressed deep confusion and sorrow over the loss of his kind and charismatic companion.
The heart-wrenching pain was further emphasized by Habib’s elderly mother, unable to attend the sentencing due to frail health, who shared how her life has been forever altered since hearing of her son’s passing. Habib’s sister described carrying a shattered heart, plagued by nightmares and tears, while his teenage niece lamented the loss of her sense of security and the devastation inflicted on their entire family.
Both Tran and Nguyen remained impassive in separate prisoner’s boxes as the Crown pushed for stringent penalties. Tran faces an automatic life sentence, pending parole eligibility consideration, while prosecutors seek a five to seven-year prison term for Nguyen.
