Maria Konstan’s failure to make an appearance at her court case is just the latest in a series of bizarre circumstances that have shaken the local cash-for-gold business in the Bathurst Street and Glencairn Avenue area.
The 72-year-old Harold the Jewellery Buyer employee is charged with allegedly hiring an assassin to kill the across-the-street competition Jack Berkovits of Omni Jewelcrafters. While her case appeared before the court late last month, she did not. Her lawyer Aaron Spektor said she was in Europe, even though it was the first court date following a bail granting. Konstan’s lawyer stated his client “emphatically” denied charges, which include threatening damage, counselling to commit an indictable offence and threatening death.
Harold Gerstel, Konstan’s employer, believes the charges are false. “Sometimes innocent people get framed, that’s all,” he said, just after last month’s court date.
According to Constable Tony Vella, Konstan was arrested on July 22 for allegedly trying to bring harm to Berkovits, her work’s competition in the cash-for-gold industry. Berkovits has publicly stated that Konstan hired somebody to kill him, but plans changed when the hired murderer found Berkovits to be a decent person. When contacted recently, Berkovits refused to comment, saying his lawyer has advised him to remain silent.
Russell Oliver, one of the forefathers of the cash-for-gold business in the Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue area, said he doesn’t know what to make of the conflict between the two businesses. “I do happen to know the two owners are both of the same faith, both Orthodox, both went to the same synagogue,” said Oliver, a former boss of Gerstel.
However, Oliver said, since the price of gold started rising a few years ago, the cash-for-gold business has become intensely competitive and that anything is possible.
Konstan’s case will next appear in court on Sept. 10.
