A Syrian man charged with first-degree-murder in the death of his estranged wife pronounced his innocence during his arraignment in Supreme Court this morning.
Thirty-seven-year-old Ibrahim Alahmad is accused of kidnapping and killing his estranged wife on the morning of March 5.
At the time, he was under court orders to stay away from her, their five children, and others.
It’s alleged he forced her from her Virginia Park townhouse, and drove her to an abandoned house in Outer Cove, where he took her life, and tried to take his own.
Police were called by a nearby business after a bloodied Alahmad showed up on their doorstep.
He was arrested a short time later, initially making court appearances by video from his guarded hospital room.
BREAKING || Ibrahim Alahmad, 36, originally from Syria, appears in Supreme Court this morning on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of his estranged wife on March 5. He pleaded not guilty to all counts, with judge and jury trial set for May 2025. pic.twitter.com/tenBVWHatM
— VOCM News (@VOCMNEWS) September 9, 2024
But he physically appeared in court for the first time today, calmly entering not guilty pleas through an interpreter.
That will become trickier and time-consuming, with the potential for three Arabic translators to be required for the estimated six-week trial.
Translation is going to be one of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome, noted defence lawyer Jason Edwards.
Alahmad remains in custody, and their are publication bans on the identities of the victim, their children, and several others he’s not allowed to contact.
The judge and jury trial is proceeding by direct indictment, designed to expedite more serious cases.
Still, it’s not scheduled to start until May of next year.
