A 20-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her mother in the city’s third homicide of the year.
The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Zaniffa Balkaran. Police confirmed Sunday that Annesair Balkaran, who has been charged with first-degree murder, is her daughter.
Police found Zaniffa Balkaran dead in her apartment at a Scarborough community housing building at 4301 Kingston Rd. shortly after 10:30 Friday morning. Her daughter was arrested at the scene.
Neighbours said the pair lived together.
Debbie Thompson, 35, who lives in the building, said she had known Zaniffa Balkaran for two years and that people called her “Jenny.” Thompson said her neighbour — who she described as “very nice, very quiet,” — was an avid churchgoer who attended services several times a week.
Thompson said she had also met Balkaran’s daughter, whom she knew as “Precious,” and believed she was pregnant.
The death was not initially deemed a murder, though Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson of the homicide division did say the situation “appeared suspicious.”
Annesair Balkaran appeared in court at Old City Hall on Saturday.
Police have yet to confirm the cause of death.
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