Victim of Airbnb stabbing in British Columbia sues alleged attacker, company

One of two women allegedly stabbed by the owner of a Vancouver Airbnb has filed a civil suit against the accused as her criminal case remains on trial.

Arvin Pasha, 34, is accused of aggravated assault on two women on May 27, 2022.

Police said at the time that the incident occurred at a residence near Third Avenue and Arbutus.

The names of the women are subject to a publication ban. Even though the woman who filed the complaint is named in the civil suit, Glacier Media is respecting the criminal case's ban on releasing the women's names.

One of the women alleges in a notice of civil action filed in British Columbia Supreme Court on May 24 that she and her sister “were brutally attacked with a knife by Pasha.”

The claim stated that Pasha was the Airbnb host.

The defendants in this case are Pasha, Airbnb Canada Insurance Services and Obion Holdings.

The complaint claims he broke into the suite after the noise woke them. The two men fled down the hallway but Pasha followed them with a large kitchen knife, according to court documents.

“Pasha attacked plaintiff with the knife, stabbing her multiple times,” the complaint states.

Meanwhile, the sister called the police and screamed for help.

“The plaintiff’s sister then exited through a door leading to a stairwell in an attempt to flee Pasha,” the complaint states. “Pasha followed the complainant’s sister and attacked her with the knife in the stairwell.”

Both women suffered “several stab wounds”.

The attack ended when other residents intervened, shouting at Pasha to stop.

“Pasha remained at the scene of the attack, entering and leaving the apartment until police arrived and was arrested,” the statement said.

The complaint states that the plaintiff was stabbed in the neck, head, right hand and face; and nerve damage to his right hand and right side of his face.

She said she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, intrusive memories, nightmares, sleep problems, headaches, jaw pain, anxiety and depression.

She is seeking several damages in the lawsuit.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Pasha could not be located for comment and Obion appears to have gone bankrupt.

Airbnb spokesman Matt McNama said the company cannot comment on pending litigation.

The complaint says Pasha's last known address is Vancouver Suite, but court conditions of release require him to reside in Richmond.

Proceedings in provincial courts

Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Const. Tanis Visintin said earlier that Pasha was arrested on the day of the incident.

A Vancouver Provincial Court judge released Pasha on non-financial conditions that he live with his mother in New Westminster, observe a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, refrain from consuming intoxicants, did not have weapons and was following the instructions of a bail supervisor.

Details of the bail hearing are covered by a publication ban. Such prohibitions exist to prevent a potential jury from being tainted by prior knowledge of a case.

A trial in provincial court has been set for December 2023 and will take place over eight days in September.