Murder charges laid
Man facing murder charge against woman was already facing assault charges against her
A St. John’s man who allegedly murdered a woman earlier this week was on bail at the time with charges of violence against her.
Ibrahim Al Ahmad, 38, appeared in provincial court Thursday afternoon by phone from hospital, where he was accompanied by a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer, to be formally charged with kidnapping and firstdegree murder in connection with the death of the woman.
Her identity is protected by a publication ban.
She was found dead in an abandoned home in Logy Bay-middle Cove-outer Cove on Tuesday, March 5.
Police have confirmed she and Al Ahmad knew each other, but the RNC has declined to elaborate.
OTHER CHARGES
Al Ahmad is also charged with two breaches of a court order, in particular that he have no contact with the woman and several others, and that he not carry a concealed knife.
That order was put in place on Jan. 26, the day he was released on bail on charges of violence against the woman and others. He faces seven counts of assault with a weapon, four counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and one count each of assault causing bodily harm by choking, assault, and forcible confinement.
The Crown had been opposed to his release.
He was previously granted bail in December after the RNC arrested him for threatening the woman and assaulting her with a weapon.
He was due to appear in court on those charges on March 20, but they will now be brought forward with his latest ones.
APPEARED VIA PHONE
With the help of a translator who also attended by phone, Judge Harold Porter read Al Ahmad his new charges and ordered him to have no contact with a list of 20 people while he’s in custody, as requested by prosecutor Kellie Cullihall.
Dan Furey, acting as duty counsel, told the court Al Ahmad has not yet been able to exercise his right to speak with a lawyer, due to logistical issues because he is in hospital.
Furey said his colleague, Mark Gruchy, had attempted to contact the accused and would visit him to speak in person.
Al Ahmad will return to court, in person if he’s able or otherwise by phone again, on March 11.
WHAT HAPPENED
Police say the woman was last seen alive on Middleton Street in Virginia Park between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on March 5.
Officers located her body in the vacant home on Liam Street, about five kilometres away, about an hour and a half later.
A blue, four-door Hyundai Elantra was parked outside the home, and on Wednesday, March 6, the RNC issued a public appeal to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious around Middleton Street Tuesday morning, or who captured video — including CCTV, vehicle dash camera, cellphone, doorbell camera or other footage — of the Elantra travelling from that area to Liam Drive.
RNC Const. James Cadigan said Thursday investigators have received “a good response” from that request to the public, and are currently reviewing the information.