Fourth arrest made in mall murder

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Peel Regional Police have arrested a fourth person in connection with the execution-style slaying of a 31-year-old Mississauga man outside of Square One mall in the summer of 2005.
Jorge Alberto Restrepo, a 30-year-old Canadian citizen who is a part-time resident of Costa Rica and Colombia, was brought back to Canada today under Peel Regional Police escort. He will be appearing in court tomorrow to face a first degree murder charge in the shooting death of Mauricio Castro.
Restrepo is the younger brother of Jaime Humberto Restrepo, who is also charged with first degree murder in this case, along with Michael Dwight Allen, 34, who police allege is the shooter, and 31-year-old Zack Deleon.
Peel Homicide detectives say they tracked the younger Restrepo to South America last year, but they allege he fled the continent a short time ago "due to the increased pressure from authorities" according to Peel Cst. JP Valade.
Late last month, "through some excellent work by Immigration officers at Heathrow Airport in London, England," Restrepo was identified and apprehended, Valade said. The New Scotland Yard police department then became involved in the investigation and "were of great assistance," Valade added.
The elder Restrepo, along with Allen and Deleon, were committed to stand trial by Justice Bruce Duncan this past spring following preliminary hearings in a Brampton courtroom. Evidence given during the hearings remains under a publication ban. Castro was gunned down just before noon on July 26, 2005 as he sat in an idling SUV in front of the TD/Canada Trust bank at Square One.
Police in Costa Rica alleged late last year the Colombian-born Jaime Restrepo paid $10,000 to have Castro killed to avoid paying him a $2.4 million drug debt.
Police sources in Central America said Restrepo owed the cash to Castro. But, U.S. authorities confiscated the money when they found it hidden inside a transport truck crossing the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit on Aug. 18, 2004.
Restrepo was to deliver the cash from the sale of cocaine to Castro.
Peel homicide Insp. Norm English has said the slaying was committed for "drug and money" reasons.
Castro's murder and the slaying of his elderly father, Humberto Castro-Tirado, 71, four days later in Colombia, are believed to be connected.
Restrepo is alleged to have trafficked drugs between Colombia and Canada and maintained a connection with various drug traffickers in other countries, including Mexico, Panama and the U.S, according to Costa Rican sources.
It's also alleged Castro and Restrepo were involved in cocaine trafficking between Colombia, the U.S. and Canada.
The trial is expected to begin later this year.

lrosella@mississauga.net

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