'Coward': Lawyer who lost hand vows to forget convicted mail bomber Guido Amsel

A Winnipeg lawyer who was seriously injured when she opened a letter bomb in her office says the man who sent it to her is a coward who has left her with permanent scars and a long recovery.

Maria Mitousis did not appear to look at Guido Amsel, convicted of sending bombs to Mitousis and two others, as she delivered her victim impact statement Wednesday at Amsel's sentencing hearing.

Amsel, 52, remained seated in the prisoner's box with shackles around his feet behind Mitousis as she talked about the explosion that took her right hand.

"I've concluded that his … plan to cause pain, fear and chaos are the actions of a coward," Mitousis said.

"I wear the scars of the explosion on my face and on my body."

The scars, she said, are a reminder of the cruelty humans can inflict on each other. She said she still feels the sensation of the fingers she lost in the 2015 explosion and remains deeply affected by the sight of the end of her arm, where her hand once was.

"It shocks me each time I see it."

Amsel was convicted earlier this year on four charges of attempted murder and several other offences. Court was told he sent letter bombs simultaneously in the summer of 2015 to his ex-wife Iris Amsel and two Winnipeg lawyers who had represented her.

The bomb that injured Mitousis was placed in a recording device. A note attached to it said to press a button, which set off the explosion.

Crown attorney Chris Vanderhooft argued Wednesday that Amsel should be given a life sentence with no parole eligibility for 10 years.

Vanderhooft suggested Amsel should also get an additional 15-year sentence — to be served consecutively — for a bomb that was left outside his ex-wife's home in 2013. That explosive went off but did not injure anyone.

Defence lawyer Andrew Synyshyn asked for a sentence of between 20 and 25 years. Synyshyn said Amsel has no previous criminal record, has a history of employment and is a father of two children.

"This is someone who is established in the community," he said.

Vanderhooft called Amsel's decision to send three letter bombs at the same time in 2015 "a despicable act of indiscriminate terrorism."

He said Mitousis, by opening the package and inadvertently setting off the bomb, caused police to intercept the two other devices that Amsel had sent that week.

After this is over, I will forget him and he will disappear from my consciousness.- Maria Mitousis

"Ms. Mitousis … saved others from a similar fate," Vanderhooft said.

Amsel testified during his trial that he was being set up by his ex-wife and others, and that evidence had been planted.

Vanderhooft told the hearing Amsel has still not accepted responsibility for his actions, and recently emailed Manitoba's attorney general, alleging that even the judge hearing the case was out to get him.

"He continues on with these type of conspiracy theories," Vanderhooft told Judge Tracey Lord in Manitoba Provincial Court.

"He blames his lawyers. He blames the Crown. He blames Your Honour."

Amsel did not address the court. Mitousis said she plans to move on with her life, continue her return to work and put Amsel behind her.

"After this is over, I will forget him and he will disappear from my consciousness," Mitousis said.

Amsel waved to his family and a friend as sheriff's officers were escorting him out for the day. A family member shouted to say bye and Amsel waved back and then was taken out of the court. 

Lord reserved her decision until Nov. 22.

With files from Austin Grabish and Bryce Hoye

On your mobile device, click here to read Mitousis' full victim impact statement.

Maria Mitousis delivers victim impact statement at Guido Amsel's sentencing

6 years ago

Duration 1:51

A Winnipeg lawyer who was seriously injured when she opened a letter bomb in her office says the man who sent it to her is a coward who has left her with permanent scars and a long recovery.