Trial of man accused of kidnapping the president of Chez Cora begins in Laval

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It is said that Paul Zaidan abducted Tsouflidis and tried to collect a ransom from the victim’s mother.

Author of the article:

Paul Cherry • Montreal Gazette

Publication date:

November 16, 2021 • 13 minutes ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation

Nicholas Tsouflidis, son of Cora Tsouflidou and vice president of the Chez Cora restaurant chain, in 2008.
Nicholas Tsouflidis, son of Cora Tsouflidou and vice president of the Chez Cora restaurant chain, in 2008. PHIL CARPENTER Photo /Montreal Gazette

The jury trial of a man accused of kidnapping the president of the restaurant chain Chez Cora has begun in the Laval courthouse.

Paul Zaidan, 52, of Laval, faces three charges alleging that he abducted Nicholas Tsouflidis on March 8, 2017, held him against his will for hours over the course of two days, and tried to collect a ransom from the mother of the victim, Cora Tsouflidis, the founder of Chez Cora.

The trial, which will be presided over by Superior Court Judge François Dadour, began with an official reading of the charges. Zaidan, who was arrested in 2018, has pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Initially, fourteen jurors were selected to serve on the panel, but Dadour excused two on Tuesday to reduce the number to the standard 12.

The Crown will be represented by Prosecutors Karine Dalphond and Sarah Beaudry Leclerc. Zaidan will be represented by defense attorneys Hovsep Dadaghalian and Christopher Lerhe Mediati.

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Reference-montrealgazette.com

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