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Almost a year following the tragic death of 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach in Halifax, the first among four youths charged in connection with the case has received her sentencing.
The young girl, who was just 14 at the time of the incident, confessed to manslaughter in October 2024.
On Thursday, the presiding judge imposed a sentence consisting of three additional months in custody, followed by a two-year period of community reintegration, totaling 27 months under court supervision.
However, for Al Marrach’s family, this outcome is profoundly disappointing. Basima Al Jaji, the mother of Ahmad, expressed her dissatisfaction through an Arabic interpreter, stating, “This is not a fair sentencing. This individual should be in custody forever, herself and the other people involved.”
Reflecting on her deep anguish, she revealed how the loss of her son has affected her life, saying, “I still cannot accept what happened to Ahmad, everything that went on with Ahmad, everything that he went through nobody can endure.”
Ahmad Al Marrach had emigrated to Canada with his family in 2016, fleeing the devastating effects of war in Syria. Tragically, he was found gravely injured in a parking garage adjacent to the Halifax Shopping Centre on April 22, 2024, and succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mark Heerema remarked on the severity of the attack as depicted in mall surveillance footage, describing it as a “cruel, callous and cowardly attack.” He acknowledged that while the decision may be perceived as “too lenient,” he emphasized the importance of rehabilitation opportunities.
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globalnews.ca