Man faces charges in city’s 3rd homicide of 2012

TORONTO, Ont. – Police say a man has been charged with second-degree murder in the city’s third homicide of 2012, while the victim’s family has asked for privacy.

Just after 1 p.m. Sunday, police were called to a duplex on Airdrie Road in Leaside regarding a missing person, where they discovered a woman’s body.

The family has now identified her as 46-year-old Lisa Lebitka, an interior designer and a mother to three children under the age of 11. Neighbours told 680News she had been renting the home with her boyfriend at the time of the murder.

“This is an extremely tragic time for the families involved, and my reason for being here is to request that the media respect the privacy of the families and their children,” said the children’s uncle Mark Thompson in front of the victim’s home, Tuesday afternoon.

“The children are safe with their father, who is in no way implicated,” their uncle told the media. “As you can expect, they’re in shock, and they’re with their families who love them and they’re doing the best they can.”

Thompson also thanked “the Toronto Police Services for their assistance and professionalism, [and] the Leaside community for their love and support during this time of mourning.”

The owner of a restaurant down the street, where Lebitka used to take her children, was devastated by the news.

“Those kids grew up here and I knew them and my heart is with them, my thoughts are with them.” he told 680News.

He said the children and their father were at his restaurant having brunch on the day Lebitka’s body was found.

Donations can be made to the Donaldson Children’s Trust at the Bank of Nova Scotia, 1547 Bayview Ave., M4G 3B5. Phone number: 416-487-2826.

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