Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Teen testifies he tried to steer friend away from fatal confrontation outside Halifax mall

Teen testifies he tried to steer friend away from fatal confrontation outside Halifax mall

CBC
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 7:22 AM GMT

A close friend of Ahmad Al Marrach testified Monday he tried to discourage the 16-year-old boy from participating in a prearranged fight outside a Halifax shopping mall that led to his death last spring.

Al Marrach was stabbed in a parking garage at the Halifax Shopping Centre early on the evening of April 22, 2024. He died later in hospital.

Four teenagers — three boys and one girl — were each originally charged with second-degree murder. Two have since pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and are to be sentenced in separate hearings in March.

In a Halifax courtroom Monday at the trial of one of the two other teens accused in Al Marrach's death, the friend testified he and Al Marrach had known each other from the time they arrived in Canada in 2016 as refugees.

Like all young witnesses in this Nova Scotia youth court trial, his identity is protected by a publication ban.

The friend told the court he received a text from Al Marrach early on the afternoon of April 22 telling him about the fight. He said he tried to persuade Al Marrach to skip the fight and go to a mosque to pray instead. But he said Al Marrach insisted he had to fight.

Other witnesses have testified Al Marrach and the teen who's the subject of this trial had argued over social media about a girl they were both interested in and agreed to meet at the mall to fight. But this witness suggested it could also have been about things one of the other accused said about Al Marrach's family. He did not specify what that might have been.

The witness said he and some other friends of Al Marrach waited at a nearby Tim Hortons for word that the fight had started. When they were told, they ran to the parkade.

The witness said when he arrived at the fight, he was confronted by two teens brandishing knives who prevented them from getting too close. At that point, he said, Al Marrach was grappling with one attacker while the teenage girl — one of the accused who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter — was kicking him.

He said one of the two teens with knives shouted "Do you want to get killed?"

Under cross-examination, the witness admitted the teen who is on trial did not make threats, but simply held a knife, waving it in a slashing motion.

When pressed further by defence lawyer Anna Mancini, the witness retracted his testimony about the slashing motion and said the threats came from the other teen who was brandishing a knife. That teen has also pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

After Al Marrach was stabbed, people scattered. The witness said he left the parkade and headed for the bus terminal across the street.

He said he boarded a bus but discovered two of the accused, including the one now on trial, were already on board. The witness said he left the bus and spoke to a transit supervisor who advised him to talk to police, who by that time had started arriving at the parkade.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
The FIFA World Cup is heading to Trump's U.S. Will the world want to come — or even be able to?

You could argue the United States isn't exactly the most welcoming country for visitors at the moment.

Hamilton steelworkers hang onto jobs for now but brace for impact as U.S. doubles industry tariffs

It's not clear what increased U.S. steel tariffs will mean for Hamilton, but workers and industry leaders agree it's nothing good.

No tax on tips? Experts warn against bringing U.S. proposal to Canada

The idea of "no tax on tips" has found a way to appeal across party lines in the U.S. The policy is winding its ways through the halls of American government — but economists warn, it's not an idea worth pursuing here in Canada.

'There's a lot I wish I would have taken': Denare Beach residents in shock after wildfire

When Rebecca McCrimmon evacuated with her family from Denare Beach last week, it was out of concern that access to the northeast Saskatchewan community, not far from the Manitoba border, would be cut off by the Club fire burning to the north.

Thunder Bay Public Library appoints Indigenous relations advisor

The Thunder Bay Public Library has appointed Stephanie MacLaurin as its new senior advisor of Indigenous relations, a key leadership role aimed at advancing the library's commitment to reconciliation and the decolonization of public spaces.

Mystery leak that forced Scarborough family from home spreads as city continues to investigate

A mystery leak that's forced a Scarborough family from their home for the past month appears to be spreading. 

Small but 'life-changing' policy helps Parkinson's patients who need emergency care at Guelph's hospital

When people go to the emergency department, they're not allowed to take their own medications while they wait, which Theresa Daly says can be a huge problem for people with Parkinson's.

UPEI food bank prepares for surge in use with tuition hike set for upcoming academic year

The University of Prince Edward Island's food bank is bracing for what a fall tuition increase could mean for the students who use the service. 

Yukon launches its 1st-ever family medicine residency program

The Yukon is launching its first-ever medical residency program.

Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax reform bill could cost Canadians billions

A small, obscure section buried in U.S. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost Canadians and Canadian companies billions of dollars, CBC News has learned.

Albertans for Carney? They're as impressed with new PM as they are with Poilievre: poll

EDITOR'S NOTE: CBC News commissioned this public opinion research to be conducted immediately following the federal election and leading into the second anniversary of the United Conservative Party's provincial election win in May 2023. 

Demand for water bombers has 'skyrocketed' as Canada grapples with more intense wildfires

As Canada is again dealing with massive wildfires, the increasing severity of the natural disasters is having the knock-on effect of spiking the demand for water bomber planes — and it will be years before Canada gets its hands on a new one.

GTA mom questions how non-verbal child was able to board bus, GO train alone

Valerie Loewen panicked when she woke in early April to find her 9-year-old son William had left their Milton, Ont., house by himself.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Nunavut gov't, teachers' union ratify new collective agreement

The government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Teachers' Association have ratified a new collective agreement with several incremental wage increases until mid-2028. 

House unanimously adopts Liberals' promised income tax cut

The House of Commons unanimously voted in favour of the Liberals' promised income tax cut on Thursday.

Measles-infected infant dies in southwestern Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of Health announced on Thursday the first recorded death of a measles patient from the current outbreak that started in October of last year. 

Former New York, London transit exec tapped to lead Toronto Transit Commission

The incoming CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission says he hopes to leverage his experience working for two of the largest transit agencies in the world to make the TTC the most reliable transit system in North America. 

Copper wire thefts surge in downtown London with salvage yards told to be on alert

London police are urging downtown residents, businesses and property owners to be on alert amid an uptick in copper wire thefts in the core over the last several months.

April's $7.1B merchandise trade deficit was the largest on record

Canada posted its largest merchandise trade deficit on record in April — at $7.1 billion — as exports fell sharply in the face of U.S. tariffs.

7-year-old dead after being struck by SUV in St. John's

A seven-year-old boy who was hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle in a St. John's neighbourhood has died.

Sudbury, Ont., seed producer helping expand national seed production through new partnership

A seed company in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production.

Former kids in care need more support to make good use of free tuition, researcher says

The majority of people who have spent time in foster care need support — and not just free tuition — to succeed in higher education.

N.B. rent cap will remain at 3% for another year, minister says

New Brunswick's rent cap, introduced after the Liberals won last fall, will remain at three per cent for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Housing Minister David Hickey announced in the legislature Wednesday.

Manitoba cabinet minister harassed college employee in past job, external investigation concluded

Recently appointed federal cabinet minister Rebecca Chartrand harassed a former employee at Winnipeg's Red River College Polytechnic over a period of several months in 2019, according to an external investigation commissioned by the college and conducted by a Winnipeg law firm.

Groups in La Ronge racing to rescue as many animals as they can after wildfires force evacuation

While residents of La Ronge and the surrounding area have escaped from northern Saskatchewan's wildfires to safer spots, many of their pets had to be left behind.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us