‘Chaos, destruction, indiscriminate death’
Court hears final arguments in vehicle attacks
EDMONTON • Prosecutors argue Abdulahi Sharif intended to cause as much death and destruction as possible on the streets of Edmonton two years ago, but another lawyer said the jury should consider alternate theories.
The jury trying Sharif on 11 charges, including five counts of attempted murder, heard closing arguments Wednesday.
For three weeks, they’ve listened to evidence from dozens of witnesses to the events of Sept. 30, 2017, when five people including a police officer were injured in a pair of alleged vehicle attacks.
During closing arguments, they heard theories on what that evidence means.
Chief Crown prosecutor Shelley Bykewich argued Sharif went to “extraordinary lengths to cause as much chaos, destruction and indiscriminate death as possible
in the city of Edmonton.”
“Despite the accused’s best efforts ... he failed to kill anyone.”
The Crown alleges Sharif, 32, struck Const. Mike Chernyk with his car as the officer stood at a traffic post outside Commonwealth Stadium. Bykewich pointed to testimony from passersby who heard the engine of the white Chevy Malibu rev continuously as it careened through Cherynk and into the officer’s cruiser.
Witnesses then saw a man exit the car and descend on the downed officer. The man first plunged a knife ineffectively into Chernyk’s body armour. He then stabbed at Chernyk’s face with one hand, while struggling to grab the officer’s gun with the other. Chernyk eventually gained the upper hand and the man fled.
Bykewich argued the accused’s intent was to provoke a response by killing a police officer. “This was all about the uniform,” she said. She said he was still in the area three hours later, when he was spotted at a police traffic checkpoint behind the wheel of a 15-foot U-Haul.
Sharif is self-represented, and has declined to cross-examine any of the Crown’s 41 witnesses. He also declined to call evidence or testify himself.
To assist in the case, the court appointed a veteran criminal defence lawyer as amicus curiae, Latin for friend of the court.
In a submission Wednesday, lawyer Greg Lazin stressed he is not Sharif’s counsel. He told the jury he and the accused have never even spoken.
Lazin said the Crown argued the fact the U-Haul turned west showed the driver intended to go to the heart of the city and cause as much damage as possible.
Lazin suggested the jury ought to take a close look at that evidence.
“The U-Haul to this point has demonstrated behaviour that the Crown suggests proves one thing,” he said. “You may want to consider whether the U-Haul is simply looking for the easiest method of escape.”
To convict someone of attempted murder, Lazin said the Crown must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the person had the specific intent to kill. “Recklessness, the intention to inflict harm, even significant harm, is not enough.”
Justice Paul Belzil will deliver his charge to the jury Thursday, after which jurors will begin deliberations.