Accused in double murder removed from court

Courtroom outbursts had doublemurder suspect Emanuel Kahsai removed by sheriffs Tuesday from a pretrial conference.

And the Crown said it may apply to have Kahsai kept from his own trial if his antics continue.

Prosecutor Matt Dalidowicz said a section of the Criminal Code would allow Justice Glen Poelman to order Kahsai out of his own jury trial if he remains disruptive.

Dalidowicz’s comments were made with Kahsai out of the courtroom, having been banished by Poelman after he wouldn’t quiet down.

Before then, Kahsai stood, handcuffed, in the prisoner’s box, alternately blurting things out and moaning loudly.

“The evidence doesn’t matter,” he said at one point.

“It matters very much, Mr. Kahsai,” Poelman patiently pointed out.

“The torture, the obstruction of justice,” he rambled.

“I’d like your name and your contact information.”

I can’t have you here when you’re not being properly responsive, sir.

Poelman repeatedly attempted to get the accused to quiet down, without success.

“You disgust me, you disgust me, your presence really disgusts me,” Kahsai continued, before the Court of Queen’s Bench judge had enough and ordered sheriffs to return him to cells.

“Officers, please remove Mr. Kahsai from the courtroom,” Poelman said.

Kahsai is charged with firstdegree murder in the death of his mother, Selamawit (Selma) Alem, 54, and second-degree murder in the killing of her developmentally disabled client, Julie Tran, 25.

Both women’s bodies were found Oct. 19, 2015, in a home in the 200 block of Coventry Close N.E.

Dalidowicz said he and co-prosecutor Todd Buziak may seek to have Kahsai removed from the courtroom and forced to watch proceedings via closed-circuit TV without being able to address the court.

He suggested Kahsai, who is representing himself, could write down questions he wanted put to witnesses in the courtroom and Poelman could ask them.

He also said Kahsai may have to be expelled during jury selection scheduled for March 1, if he refuses to behave.

Poelman ordered an “amicus” appointed for that procedure to assist the court in handling Kahsai’s case.

Dalidowicz said courts in the past have banished accused persons who have refused to act properly during their trials.

“If Mr. Kahsai misbehaves himself at trial ... in the way he is doing now in the pretrial conference, that’s what we’ll be asking the court to do.”

Poelman then asked Kahsai to be returned to the courtroom, but he continued to act up.

“I can’t have you here when you’re not being properly responsive, sir,” he told the accused as he was removed again.

Kahsai has been found fit to stand trial following extensive mental-health testing.

Pretrial motions begin Feb. 20, with evidence before jurors beginning March 5.

Poelman ordered a transcript of the proceedings be prepared so Kahsai knows what was said in his absence.