41-year-old Dr. Laura Gover-Basar, a VIU professor for over a decade, was found dead in a Saanich home on Jan. 5, and her ex-husband, Muhammed Basar, is facing a murder charge and remains in custody. (Image Credit: GoFundMe)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

murder investigation

‘A teacher and a friend:’ Nanaimo professor named as victim in Saanich murder

Jan 15, 2026 | 12:00 PM

NANAIMO — A Vancouver Island University (VIU) professor is being remembered for her dedication and passion after she tragically lost her life from alleged intimate partner violence.

Dr. Laura Gover-Basar, 41, was found deceased inside a home in Saanich on Jan. 5, with her ex-husband, Muhammed Ali Basar, arrested a few days later and charged with murder in relation her death.

Gover-Basar taught in the faculty of management for more than a decade, specializing in human resources management, according to a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW from VIU, calling her a “deeply committed educator, a thoughtful scholar, and a generous presence in our community.”

“Known for her kindness and approachability, Laura consistently went above and beyond to support student learning. She played an important role in curriculum design and supervised numerous applied research projects, leaving a lasting impact on her students’ academic and professional journeys,” the statement read.

VIU said her loss will be felt across the entire campus and beyond, with “her care for students, dedication to learning and the quiet ways she showed up for others left a lasting imprint on VIU.”

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“Laura brought exceptional professional insight to her teaching and mentorship, helping students connect theory with practice and preparing them for success in their careers…for many, Laura was a mentor, a collaborator, a teacher and a friend.”

A GoFundMe account in Gover-Basar’s name had raised over $243,000 at the time of publication, with the money going to the victim’s two daughters, aged seven and 11.

She was also a faculty member at Camosun College, as well as an advocate for mental health support and organizations such as Moms Stop the Harm, according to the GoFundMe.

Basar has been in custody since his Jan. 9 arrest, with his first court appearance scheduled for Jan. 21 in Victoria.

Police say he was originally taken into custody the day Gover-Basar’s body was found, but was released without charges the next day, with the Saanich Police Major Crime Unit (SPMCU) saying it was due to the early stages of the investigation.

Basar has only one other charge on his record for disobeying a court order out of Saanich on Oct. 24, 2025.

The SPMCU continues to investigate and said they believe it was an isolated incident, and there’s no indication anyone else is connected to her death.

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