The Toronto neurosurgeon accused of murdering his wife, a respected family doctor and mother of three, will be held in custody into the new year after making a brief court appearance Tuesday.

Dressed in an orange jumper, Mohammed Shamji, 40, looked solemn and said nothing but his own name while appearing via video in a north Toronto court. His case was put off until Jan. 5.

The former Toronto Western Hospital doctor is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Elana Fric-Shamji, his wife of 12 years and the mother of his three children. According to court documents, police believe Shamji killed Fric-Shamji, 40, some time between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

Friends and colleagues of Fric-Shamji, a physician in Scarborough Hospital’s family practice teaching unit, say she had filed for divorce from Shamji just days before.

Fric-Shamji’s body was discovered in Vaughan earlier this month, next to the West Humber River. Police say she had been strangled and had suffered from blunt force trauma. The couple’s three children are currently living with Fric-Shamji’s parents.

Shamji’s family was not present at the court appearance Tuesday. But one of his former patients, Desre Kramer, sat in the front row, wanting to show her support for the doctor.

Speaking to reporters outside court, Kramer said she fell down the stairs and broke her spine. She didn’t believe she would walk again, but underwent a 6.5-hour surgery with Shamji. She is now “deeply and profoundly confused,” saying she could not reconcile the man she knew with the accused killer who appeared in court.

“He saved my life,” she said. “I walk because of him, I’m not in pain because of him.”

As reported by the Star earlier this month, Shamji was charged with uttering threats and assaulting Fric-Shamji in 2005, when the couple was newly married.

The details of the incident, which occurred while the couple were newlyweds living in Ottawa, were not accessible to staff at the Ottawa courthouse, who said the case file is now in storage. The charges were withdrawn after Shamji signed a peace bond.

Earlier this month, the Ontario Medical Association released a statement on behalf of Fric-Shamji’s family thanking the public for their support. The family has referred to Fric-Shamji as “Dr. Elana Fric.”

“We deeply appreciate the support that Elana’s children and we as a family have received — it has been a kindness for which we are very thankful,” said the statement.

“We would also like to express thanks to the many friends, neighbours and colleagues who have shared their memories of Elana as a wonderful person, mother, and physician. We miss her greatly and these memories mean a great deal to all of us today and every day.”

The organization has directed those hoping to give memorial donations on Fric’s behalf to the Shelter Movers of Toronto and the Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care, citing the doctor’s passions for global health and care for vulnerable populations.

Last week, the Shelter Movers of Toronto, held a candlelight vigil outside Queen’s Park to remember Fric-Shamji.

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The Ontario Medical Association described Fric-Shamji as “a talented family physician who was active in many efforts to improve the health-care system.”