The trial for a man accused of kidnapping and killing his estranged wife has been postponed after the accused parted ways with his lawyer.
Thirty-eight-year-old Ibrahim Alahmad was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping after the shocking events of March 5th last year.
It’s alleged he forced the victim from her Virginia Park home and drove to an abandoned house in Outer Cove, where he took her life, and was seriously injured himself, though it’s unclear how.
Police were called by an area business after a bloodied Alahmad showed up in their shop.
At the time, he was under court orders to stay away from the woman, their five children, and others, including some in the local Syrian community, whose identities are all banned from publication.
The trial was scheduled to begin with jury selection on May 5, but in the words of Supreme Court Justice Vikas Khaladkar, “there’s no way we’ll be able to do that now.”
Ibrahim Alahmad, charged with first-degree murder in the killing of his estranged partner last year, is escorted into Supreme Court in St. John’s on Monday. pic.twitter.com/mlGo9poHD3
— VOCM News (@VOCMNEWS) February 18, 2025
That was after Legal Aid’s Jason Edwards informed the court he was withdrawing as defence counsel at Alahmad’s request.
“Yeah, I don’t want him, no,” said Alahmad, through an Arabic translator flown in from Halifax for the appearance.
The judge was quick to note, however, that Legal Aid lawyers, and Edwards in particular, was as qualified, competent and experienced, and in many case moreso, than lawyers in private practice.
The Crown, meanwhile, wanted assurances Alahmad wasn’t planning to represent himself, given he’s facing the most serious charge on the books.
In the end, Khaladkar told Alahmad to file his request for a new lawyer ASAP, noting they’ll need time to get up to speed on the case.
Also, since the trial delay is of Alahmad’s doing, it won’t count toward the 30-month Jordan rule for such trials to finish.
The case is now scheduled to be called in Supreme Court on April 1st for an update on Alahmad’s efforts to get a lawyer.
