John Ruch to fight manslaughter charge in Tausif Chowdhury case
One of two Ottawa teens accused of manslaughter and robbery in the November death of international student Tausif Chowdhury plans to plead not guilty to the charges, his lawyer told CBC News.
John Ruch, 19, was arrested overnight Friday and appeared in court to face the charges on Saturday. He has not previously been involved in the criminal justice system, said his lawyer, Paolo Giancaterino.
"The charges are obviously a shock," Giancaterino said. "It's a new process for him, having never been charged with an offence, having never been brought through the criminal justice system so obviously there's a bit of confusion as to what the next steps are."
Ruch is accused along with 19-year-old Steven Kozielo. Giancaterino said he has not yet spoken to Kozielo's lawyer.
"It's obviously early in the process," Giancaterino said.
Chowdhury's body was discovered off a path between the Airport Parkway and the South Keys Transitway station on the morning of Nov. 27. Investigators recovered a hammer nearby.
Police say Chowdhury was known to them but he did not have a criminal record.
Chowdhury came to Ottawa in 2008 to study electrical engineering at Carleton University, his friends told CBC News.
He was from Bangladesh, but his family lives in Saudi Arabia.
Ruch is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday afternoon.
