Man who killed sisters found not criminally responsible

‘Acute psychotic state of mind’ blamed for two fatal stabbings

A man who killed his two sisters was found not criminally responsible on Monday for the December 2016 double homicide, with court hearing he experienced visual and auditory hallucinations and that he felt like he “was attacking the kids of a monster.”

Musab A-Noor pleaded not guilty by reason of a mental disorder to murder charges laid against him after he fatally stabbed his two sisters, Asma A-Noor, 32, and Nasiba A-Noor, 29.

In December 2016, Musab, then 29, was living with his mother and three sisters in a townhouse on McCarthy Road. He had had three prior dealings with police, all for mental-health-related reasons. Just a month before, his family took him to see a doctor. A further visit was planned.

On the night of Dec. 16, a third sister left for the airport to board a flight to British Columbia to visit family. She missed her flight and returned to the family home where she found her slain siblings, Asma and Nasiba. They had been stabbed repeatedly.

The Somali community remembered the slain sisters as “influential and inspiring.” Nasiba taught Islamic studies to girls at the Tarbiyah Learning Centre in Nepean.

Those in their lives noted their devotion to family, community and the Qur’an.

As news of the homicides and the large police presence in the city’s south end broke on a Friday night, reporters arrived on scene. Aedan Helmer, a Citizen reporter, spotted Musab standing on train tracks a short distance away from the home.

Musab had his hands in his pockets and was inappropriately dressed for a cold December night. Helmer notified police, who then arrested Musab.

Musab was “experiencing significant psychiatric difficulty and stress,” deputy Crown attorney Brian Holowka told the court.

Defence lawyer Samir Adam told the court his client was “gravely ill at the time.”

Once charged, Musab was catatonic and was deemed unfit to stand trial. He was eventually sent for medical treatment. Court has heard that the treatment included sedative and anti-psychotic drugs.

Yet when the medication began to take effect, Musab entered into a deep depression, which “deprived him of the ability to contribute or instruct counsel,” Holowka said. He remained unfit to stand trial.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Lynn Ratushny ruled that it was “crystal clear” from the medical evidence and assessments filed in the case that Musab was experiencing an “acute psychotic state of mind.”

Ratushny told Musab that “this has been a terrible tragedy for you and your family.” She offered her condolences to him. “Thank you,” he said. Musab will remain at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and will be monitored by the Ontario Review Board, the body that oversees anyone who is found not criminally responsible or unfit to stand trial for offences because of a mental disorder.

He will also submit a DNA sample that will be stored in a databank.

Lead Ottawa police homicide investigator Det. Kevin Jacobs said the tragic case has “destroyed a family.”

“The A-Noor family have simply been unable to deal with the awful events which occurred in their home on Dec. 16, 2016.”

The review board will determine the scope and duration of Musab’s treatment and will consider risk factors before he’s let back into the community, Jacobs said.

“It is sad that Musab’s actions took away the lives of his sisters Asma and Nasiba, people he looked up to and revered,” Jacobs said.

The A-Noor family continues to ask for privacy.