Principal of AHP Matthew Elementary slain, husband hospitalized

The Province

Newlywed bride and school principal Shemina Hirji was found slain yesterday in her Burnaby home.

Police were called at noon to a townhouse in the 7400-block of Mulberry Place owned by Hirji, the principal of AHP Matthew Elementary in Surrey.

Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesman Cpl. Dale Carr said the husband -- who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries -- is the only confirmed witness.

The husband, Narinder (Paul) Cheema, told police that three men entered the home and attacked him and his wife, leaving her dead and him injured.

Neighbours said the couple married just last weekend.

"He described two of the suspects as a tall Caucasian in a brown suit and a dark-skinned man wearing a ski mask," said Carr. "He was unable to describe the third man."

Carr said any witnesses should come forward.

"We're out doing neighbourhood canvassing," said Carr, who would not confirm the name of the victim or her husband.

Hirji has published numerous academic studies of ethnics in education, including "Teachers of Punjabi Sikh Ancestry: Their Perception of Their Role in the British Columbia Education System," and "Teachers of Chinese Ancestry: The Interaction of Identities and Professional Roles."

Hirji completed her bachelor of education at Simon Fraser University in 1991.

In 1998 she wrote a thesis for a master's degree on "The Roles of Teachers of Punjabi Sikh Ancestry in the British Columbian Education System." In it, she wrote:

"This thesis is dedicated to my parents Amir and Roshan Hirji, who have supported and encouraged me in all that I do."

She also concludes: "It is critical to acknowledge teachers of Punjabi Sikh ancestry not just as 'professional ethnics,' but as educators with a range of skills and talent as varied as those of their mainstream colleagues."

Neighbours at the townhouse complex in Burnaby said the couple were married just last weekend at the Hotel Vancouver. Neighbour Nadya Van Dijk said she was home about noon, but didn't hear a thing.

"It was a real surprise," said Van Dijk. "It's a really quiet neighbourhood. I don't expect that kind of thing here."

Young Ben Tedder, just 10, was overwhelmed by the police and media huddled at the entrance to the complex. "We came home, and it was all taped off," said Tedder. "It was kind of scary."

Hirji's townhouse has an assessed value of $434,000.

"It's a bit spooky," said one neighbour who didn't want his name used.

"It's a pretty sleepy place."

The neighbour wanted to know whether the incident was a targeted or random attack.

"If it was random, I'd be worried."

A woman leaving the complex was very upset.

"It's really tragic," she said. "I know they just got married last week.

"That's all I know."