Guido Amsel's ex-wife had explosion at home in 2013, neighbour says

The ex-wife of Guido Amsel, the man accused of mailing bombs to three women in Winnipeg, had an explosion on her rural Manitoba property in 2013, a neighbour says.

Winnipeg police have charged Amsel, 49, with attempted murder and aggravated assault, among other offences, after explosive devices were shipped to two law firms and a business in recent days.

One of the devices exploded at the Petersen King law offices on Friday, seriously injuring family lawyer Maria Mitousis, 38, who works at the firm. Guido Amsel targeted Mitousis, his ex-wife Iris Amsel's lawyer, police said.

• Winnipeg mail bomb targets were 3 women
• Suspected bomber went through lengthy divorce

Police have also alleged Iris Amsel was targeted, as were the Orle Bargen and Davidson law offices, where a former lawyer of Guido Amsel used to work. The police department's bomb unit intercepted and detonated explosive devices at that firm's office, and at a business on Washington Avenue where his ex-wife works, over the weekend.

Court documents show the couple separated in 2003 after more than 15 years of marriage and divorced in 2004.

St. Clements home

Guido and his ex-wife Iris Amsel built a home in the Rural Municipality of St. Clements in the early 90s. 

Iris Amsel kept living in the home in St. Clements after the divorce.

David Kane, one of her neighbours, said about two years ago, a blast at Iris Amsel's home was so powerful it knocked him to the floor in his home.

"I was reading a good novel, and something rocked my world and literally threw me onto the floor," Kane said. "There was a blackening around the window of the garage, and the window of the garage was blown out."

Two days after the explosion, Kane said the RCMP's bomb unit visited Iris Amsel's home. 

Kane said RCMP told him there was an explosion of some kind. Iris Amsel never offered up an explanation about what happened, he said.

On Tuesday, RCMP provided the following statement on the matter to CBC News:

"Manitoba RCMP can confirm that on the morning of December 13, 2013, officers attended a residence on Nicholas Street, in the RM of St. Clements in response to a report of mischief where private property was damaged. The investigation is ongoing and as such, we are unable to comment further at this time."

Ernie Ducharme, one of Guido Amsel's neighbours on Pandora Avenue in Winnipeg, said he was shocked by the charges laid against Amsel.

Ducharme said he has known Amsel, his new wife and their two young kids since they moved in a few years ago.

Police searched Guido Amsel's Pandora home on Sunday. Amsel remains in police custody.