Lawyer who survived bomb attack to share story at Saint John conference

A Winnipeg lawyer who lost her hand when a package bomb exploded in her office two years ago is bringing a message of resilience to colleagues in New Brunswick.

"We're stronger and they're stronger than ... they think they are," said Maria Mitousis, who's been invited to talk about her experience at the Canadian Bar Association's Women Lawyers Forum in Saint John on May 12.

"Sometimes we worry about how we'll react and how we'll respond to challenges in life.

"They need to know that they've got it within themselves and they can get through the kind of adversity that is bound to happen in one's life."

• Lawyer Maria Mitousis eager to get back to work nearly 1 year after mail bomb blast

• Winnipeg lawyer Maria Mitousis, 38, injured by bomb in law office

On July 3, 2015, Mitousis suffered serious injuries, including the loss of her dominant right hand as well as burns to her face, thighs and neck when she opened a package containing explosives packed into a voice recorder.

She would later recount the thoughts that went through her mind while waiting for emergency responders, including the fear that she would die from loss of blood.

Return to work

But after some months of hospital treatments and therapy, she returned to family law.

Around that time, she told CBC News she refused to blame the incident on what she did for a living.

During the investigation, Winnipeg police said they were considering a theory that Mitousis was the target of an ex-spouse of one of her clients after lengthy divorce proceedings.

They arrested Guido Amsel, then 49, and accused him of using mail bombs to target his ex-wife Iris Amsel, as well as Mitousis, who had represented her.

Amsel was twice denied bail and faces five counts of attempted murder. A trial is scheduled to start Sept. 11.

Mitousis said she has yet to prepare herself as a witness.

"I'm not dealing with it right now," she said in an interview Tuesday from the CBC Winnipeg studios. "When the time comes and I know exactly what my role is going to be, I'll deal with it then."

Attack 'statistically improbable'

When asked if she thinks there is inherent risk to practising family law, Mitousis said no.

"What did happen to me was quite extraordinary ... statistically, very improbable.

"I was unlucky. But having said that, a lot of people are unlucky and you have to move forward."

Mitousis did admit that getting back to the job full time was more difficult than she expected.

She said she's learned to adjust to her limitations.

"Being aware of what you can and can't do, frees up your ability to do what you can do and do it well."

She's been to New Brunswick once before and said she looks forward to her visit next week.

Her talk is being billed as a fireside chat with Justice Margaret Larlee of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal.

"I knew from the very beginning that I was going to come back to work," said Mitousis. "It was a way of not letting what happened change who I am and my future."

Women's forum co-chair Ellen Desmond says the story is inspiring.

"Despite having suffered a life-altering attack, Ms. Mituosis has returned to work with a sense of hope and optimism," wrote Desmond in an email.

"As women lawyers, we are looking forward to hearing Ms. Mitousis speak about her experience and how to embrace change and overcome obstacles, without being defined by one moment or one experience."