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A London man charged in the death of his girlfriend is also facing unrelated charges of assault and mischief, court records show.
George Curtis, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Cheryl Sheldon, 62, who died in hospital after she was found critically injured in her public-housing apartment on June 28.
Curtis appeared by in court Tuesday by video link from the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre and was remanded into custody until his next appearance on July 9.
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A Justice of the peace previously issued a bench warrant for Curtis’s arrest on April 9 after he failed to show up at his first court appearance on charges of assault and mischief under $5,000, court records show.
The charges stem from March 3, when Curtis is accused of assaulting a man and damaging a window at the Valu-mart on Oxford Street, the document state.
Curtis was released from custody on an undertaking – a document created by either a court or police that places the charged person under certain conditions – that ordered him not to communicate with the victim and another man or go near the downtown grocery store.
Sheldon had spent years living on the streets, struggling with addiction and health issues, before recently moving into her own apartment at 345 Wharncliffe Rd. N., friends previously told The Free Press.
Neighbours at the high-rise operated by London & Middlesex Community Housing said Sheldon’s partner lived with her, though court documents say Curtis didn’t have a fixed address.
A memorial for Sheldon held last week at the London Public Library’s Central branch drew dozens of people, who described her as a “caring” and “fierce” woman.
“She had a heart of gold and she loved everybody,” said Emma Worrall, who was working at Ark Aid Street Mission when she met Sheldon and helped her move into her apartment in December. “We had kind of a mom-daughter connection.”
Sheldon’s death is London’s third homicide of the year. Last year, there were seven homicides.
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