Suspected Hate-Motivated Assault with a Weapon Investigation, Wynford Drive and Wynford Heights Crescent area, Man Arrested

Unit:

Case #: 2024-777629

Published: Monday, April 15, 2024, 4:41 PM

The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated assault with a weapon investigation.

On Thursday April 11, 2024, officers responded to an assault with a weapon call in the Wynford Drive and Wynford Heights Crescent area.

It is alleged that:

• the accused attended a store and made xenophobic remarks towards the victim
• the victim was wearing a turban and is of South Asian ethnicity
• the accused proceeded to throw an object at the victim
• the accused then fled the scene

On Saturday April 13, 2024, Nikolin Kristofori, 54, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:

1. Assault with a weapon

He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 2 p.m., in room 205.

This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation could be led by a Divisional investigator with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU), or in some cases, will be investigated exclusively by the HCU.

If it is alleged a criminal offence was committed (such as assault or mischief) and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate, the officer-in-charge may consult with the Crown. If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the Judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.

Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda (hate speech) offences which require the Attorney General's consent to lay charges. These charges are often laid at a later time.