Patrick Sung Tae Smith charged with murder of Elham Dashtirahmatabadi, Hamilton

On May 25th, 2010, at approximately 2:00 p.m. Hamilton Police responded to the High Times Book Store at 187 King Street E. Hamilton where 32 yr. old Elham Dashtirahmatabadi was located in obvious medical distress. She was taken to hospital where on May 27th, 2010 she succumbed to her injuries. Her death was determined to be a homicide.

Over the past eight months, investigators from the Hamilton Police Service Homicide Unit continued with their investigation. Evidence from the scene was collected by the Hamilton Police Forensic Unit and sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences for examination. Numerous persons were interviewed which lead to the development of a suspect.

On Friday, January 14th, 2011, the Hamilton Police Service arrested 25 yr. old Patrick Sung Tae SMITH in Hamilton and charged him with 1st Degree Murder.

SMITH was not known to police prior to the police investigation. He was known to have spent time in the Vancouver and Montreal areas prior to his arrival in Hamilton that was shortly before the date of the homicide investigation.

The Hamilton Police Service would like to thank the members of the media for their continued cooperation throughout the investigation. It was their assistance with delivering the information about the homicide to the public that has lead to the announcement of the arrest today.