Man pleads not guilty in fatal stabbing

A man who opened his apartment to a Sudanese couple and offered them a place to stay died in a fight shortly after he told the couple they could no longer stay with him, a jury heard Monday.

In a Court of Queen’s Bench courtroom, Jeil Mawin Simon, 25, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and possession of a weapon.

Simon is accused in the death of Bullen Ambassa, 33, who was stabbed to death on March 25, 2011, after a fight at the Village Acres apartment complex in the city’s northeast end.

Ambassa was taken by EMS to hospital, where he died about an hour later.

In an opening statement Monday, Crown prosecutor Carole Godfrey told court Simon and his girlfriend were staying at Ambassa’s apartment.

Simon’s girlfriend had been staying at Ambassa’s home for a couple of weeks. Ambassa invited Simon to stay with him after he found out Simon was sleeping at his brother’s place or in his girlfriend’s car outside the apartment complex.

Court heard Simon had stayed at Ambassa’s home for a few nights before the fight took place.

On the day of the fight, Ambassa had told Simon and his girlfriend they had to leave.

Later, an argument broke out among three men after Ambassa went to a neighbour’s apartment, where Simon was, and told him they could not stay.

Ambassa was holding an object, believed to be a bat, and a phone, and tried to strike Simon, court heard.

Simon ran back to the neighbour’s apartment and jumped from the balcony to his girlfriend’s car.

Godfrey said Simon later told a detective he ran to the car, got a knife from it, and returned to the third floor.

Ambassa was stabbed three times, in the heart, arm and head.

“In his own words, (Simon) said he was raging, he lost it,” Godfrey said.

Simon then ran to the car and fled with his girlfriend. At some point, a knife was thrown out the car window, court heard. Soon after, Simon vomited on himself and his girlfriend took over driving.

Simon went to his brother’s house and rushed to the shower. He told his brother two men had attacked him and he stabbed someone.

Simon was arrested the following morning when he returned to the apartment. He did not know Ambassa was dead, court heard.