Canadian PM Trudeau leads mourning for billionaire Toronto couple after mysterious strangulation deaths

With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other dignitaries in attendance, tearful family members paid tribute to Canadian pharmaceutical billionaires and philanthropists Barry and Honey Sherman before thousands of people on Thursday, less than a week after news of the couple’s mysterious deaths shocked the nation.

The Shermans were found hanging by belts around their necks from a railing beside a pool in the basement of their Toronto mansion, a friend of the family said.

Trudeau attended the memorial service in Toronto, as did hundreds of Apotex Inc employees wearing blue, the official colour of Barry Sherman’s company. Others in attendance included Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Sherman was a prolific fundraiser for Trudeau and his Liberal Party.

The Sherman’s son Jonathan began an emotional eulogy by saying the family was frustrated with the way Toronto police have handled the case, referencing Canadian media reports that said investigators were working on the theory that Barry Sherman, 75, had killed his 70-year-old wife and then himself.

“We’ve had to navigate through a terrifying maze of non-information and unfounded speculation,” Jonathan Sherman said. “I kept expecting my parents to walk through the front door and say, ‘Everything will be fine. We’ve taken control of the situation.’”