Third suspect in fatal shooting of local man remains at large
A Canada-wide warrant remains outstanding for one of three men accused in a fatal Eau Claire shooting, while two of the suspects appeared in court Monday.
Crown prosecutor Shane Parker said although Mahad Sayid Haji Barakobe’s name appeared on the court docket, he still remains on the lam from the law.
“The other accused is still at warrant status,” Parker told provincial court Judge Terry Semenuk, after two others appeared via video links from the Calgary Remand Centre.
“He is still outstanding on Canada-wide warrants,” Parker said of Barakobe, whom police identified as a wanted man on June 11, six days after a city man was gunned down inside the underground parkade at Eau Claire Market.
Mehdi Al Khouzaii, who was also named as a wanted suspect, appeared briefly before Semenuk along with a third accused, Abdullahi Barakobe.
Student-at-law Shireen Bangash, appearing on behalf of Edmonton lawyer Brian Beresh for Abdullahi Barakobe, asked that the case be adjourned six weeks while they await disclosure.
But defence counsel Rame Katrib, who acts for Al Khouzaii, suggested a shorter two-week delay instead.
“Your honour, I don’t want to wait six weeks,” Katrib said, before Bangash agreed to the shorter adjournment. All three accused face a charge of second-degree murder, along with an allegation of kidnapping with a firearm, in connection with the June 5 shooting death of Calgarian Benjamin Vitucio.
Officers were called to reports of gunfire that evening and found Vitucio dead inside the parkade.
The two accused, in custody, return to court July 20.