Family of pregnant Ontario woman murdered by estranged husband upset by parole update
Arianna Goberdhan’s parents and sister are upset after learning that Goberdhan’s estranged husband, who murdered his pregnant wife to death seven years ago, will be eligible for day parole three years before what they were told was his parole eligibility date.
On Wednesday, the Goberdhan family said they missed a call from Correctional Services Canada but listened to a voicemail message directing them to a portal for victims online.
The family says they logged in and received a letter telling them an updated Correctional Plan Progress Report was available for Nicholas Baig, Goberdhan’s estranged husband. In the report, they learned Baig would be eligible to apply for unescorted temporary absences and day parole on April 8, 2031.
“At the sentencing in 2019, we were told he is going to be eligible for parole in 17 years, which means 2034, and that’s the date we had in the back of our minds,” said Sherry Goberdhan, Arianna’s mother.
It’s been more than eight years since her daughter was murdered, aged 27, on April 7, 2017. On that day, the body of nine-month pregnant Arianna — who was carrying Baig’s child — was discovered inside the Pickering home where Baig’s parents lived.
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She had been stabbed 17 times in her head, face, neck and body. She was dead when first responders arrived.
Baig, who was 25 at the time, fled the scene and was arrested the following night in Markham.
The unborn child, a girl whom Arianna was going to name Assara, also died.
In April 2019, the sentencing judge said, “The impact of his (Baig’s) senseless act of cruelty was profound and crushing.”
The family says, at that time, they were never notified that Baig would be eligible for day parole or unescorted day passes prior to 2034.
“Why weren’t we advised of this prior?” Sherry told Global News. “We’re just confused. Why did we only know about this today? Why didn’t we hear about this before? Why is no one communicating with us?”
“It’s not right, it’s unimaginable,” said Goberdhan’s younger sister, Carissa.
After the murder, the Goberdhan family was also frustrated that legislation prevented police from charging Baig with the death of the unborn child and felt the sentence was too lenient.
In 2023, the Goberdhans went to Ottawa to support Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall, who brought a private member’s bill to encourage judges to consider physical or emotional harm as an aggravating factor during sentencing. Known as the Violence Against Pregnant Women Act, the bill was voted down.
“The Conservatives were brave enough to bring it to the floor for the vote, but unfortunately, they were defeated,” said Arianna’s father, Chan Goberdhan.
Correctional Services Canada said in an email to Global News that eligibility rates for life-sentenced offenders are calculated according to provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada. “Offenders may apply for unescorted temporary absence and day parole three years prior to their full parole eligibility date,” the agency wrote.
The family said they were also caught off-guard in July 2021, when they learned Baig had suddenly been transferred from Millhaven Maximum Security Institution to Beavercreek Medium Security Institution.
“What we have come to realize since 2017 is that the victims have no say. It’s not fair. It’s not fair at all,” said Sherry.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Spirits maker Diageo will cease operations at its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ont., early next year, as it shifts some bottling volume to the U.S., the company announced on Thursday.
The facility, which bottles Crown Royal products, will close in February in a move aimed at improving its North American supply chain.
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About 200 jobs will be affected.
“This was a difficult decision, but one that is crucial to improving the efficiency and resiliency of our supply chain network,” Marsha McIntosh, Diageo’s president of North America supply, said in a statement.
Diageo said it will engage with the community and find ways to support its employees through the transition, and work alongside Unifor to assist unionized workers.
The company said it will still maintain a “significant” footprint in Canada — including its headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, and bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.
McIntosh added the company’s Crown Royal products will continue to be mashed, distilled and aged at its Canadian facilities.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Toronto police say a 33-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly striking two men with his car Wednesday evening.
Officers say they responded to reports of a collision in the area of Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard in the city’s North York neighbourhood just before 10:30 p.m.
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Police say two men got into an argument, leading to one man getting into his car and hitting the other man with it.
They say the man then put his car into reverse, striking a second man.
A man in his 50s was transported to hospital with serious injuries and the second man, in his 20s, had minor injuries.
Police say the suspect from Markham, Ont., faces several other charges as well, including two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and dangerous driving.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
A court document shows a Lindsay, Ont., man facing charges for allegedly breaking into an apartment was carrying a crossbow when he was confronted by a tenant.
The resident, Jeremy David McDonald, is also facing assault charges in the incident on Aug. 18 — a fact that has generated widespread interest in the case.
Police information filed in court alleges that Michael Kyle Breen damaged a window and screen at McDonald’s home and carried a crossbow.
The court document says the 41-year-old Breen is charged with break and enter, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000 and failing to comply with a probation order.
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Police have said that Breen, who is scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing next week, was already wanted for unrelated offences.
McDonald, the 44-year-old resident, was charged with aggravated assault and assault with a weapon after he allegedly “did endanger the life” of Breen.
Premier Doug Ford blasted the decision to charge the apartment resident, saying last week that it shows “something is broken.”
Kawartha Lakes Police Chief Kirk Robertson wrote in a statement Wednesday that he recognizes the incident has generated significant public interest and “emotional” responses, but called some of the reaction “unjust and inaccurate.”
Robertson wrote that individuals have the right to defend themselves and their property, but the law requires that any defensive action be proportionate to the threat faced.
“This means that while homeowners do have the right to protect themselves and their property, the use of force must be reasonable given the circumstances,” he wrote.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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