Close X
Sunday, November 17, 2024
ADVT 
National

Lawyer in Ali murder trial says 13-year-old B.C. victim was not an 'innocent'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Dec, 2023 03:34 PM
  • Lawyer in Ali murder trial says 13-year-old B.C. victim was not an 'innocent'

Ibrahim Ali's lawyer says the 13-year-old girl he's accused of murdering in a British Columbia park wasn't the "innocent" depicted in a "rose-coloured" portrayal by the Crown at trial. 

Kevin McCullough told the B.C. Supreme Court jury in his closing arguments that the version of the girl's lifestyle presented by the Crown is "at best, a partial picture" or "at worst, a lie."

He says the Crown's case rests on the belief it would have been out of character for the teen to have sex with Ali.

The body of the girl, who can't be named because of a publication ban, was found in a Burnaby, B.C., park in July 2017, just hours after her mother reported her missing. 

McCullough says the only evidence they have against Ali is his semen, found inside the girl's body, and the Crown has come up with a "crazy theory" where no one saw or heard anything connecting Ali to the murder. 

Crown attorney Daniel Porte finished closing arguments yesterday saying it had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ali dragged the girl into a wooded area of the park, sexually assaulted her, then killed her. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Staff at lodge for LNG workers in Kitimat, B.C., win 40% pay bump, averting strike

Staff at lodge for LNG workers in Kitimat, B.C., win 40% pay bump, averting strike
Employees at a lodge housing workers for LNG Canada's under-construction facility in Kitimat, B.C., have won wage increases of up to 40 per cent, averting a strike. The workers' union, Unite Here Local 40, says in a statement the new deal was reached after mediation with the employer at the BC Labour Board.  

Staff at lodge for LNG workers in Kitimat, B.C., win 40% pay bump, averting strike

Cooler weather sees B.C. wildfire numbers dip, but drought still poses concern

Cooler weather sees B.C. wildfire numbers dip, but drought still poses concern
The number of active wildfires in British Columbia has dipped below 450 as cooler weather and recent rain has cut the fire risk, although another hot spell could wipe out those gains as large sections of the province wilt under severe drought.

Cooler weather sees B.C. wildfire numbers dip, but drought still poses concern

Trudeau names new cabinet, shifting focus to economy, housing ahead of next election

Trudeau names new cabinet, shifting focus to economy, housing ahead of next election
Two-thirds of cabinet portfolios have switched hands, with seven rookie ministers coming in to replace the seven ministers who are leaving. Five of the new ministers represent constituencies in Ontario, one is from British Columbia and one from Quebec.  

Trudeau names new cabinet, shifting focus to economy, housing ahead of next election

2 new mass-timber courses to start at BCIT

2 new mass-timber courses to start at BCIT
Two new mass-timber courses are slated to begin in the fall at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. In addition, the province is providing 3.3-million-dollars to the school for the creation of a mass-timber training hub at B-C-I-T's Burnaby campus.

2 new mass-timber courses to start at BCIT

Prince George RCMP shooting leaves one injured

Prince George RCMP shooting leaves one injured
Mounties say it happened on Sunday morning at a home on Lalonde Road and that it was a targeted incident. They say surveillance footage shows a dark-coloured, extended cab pickup leaving the home at the time of the shooting.  

Prince George RCMP shooting leaves one injured

Surrey Council approves contract to build new Strawberry Hill Community Hall

Surrey Council approves contract to build new Strawberry Hill Community Hall
During the Regular Council Meeting on Monday, Surrey Council voted in favour of a $2.53M contract to build a new Strawberry Hill Community Hall. In 2021, a fire destroyed the historic Strawberry Hill Hall that was currently under construction as part of a $1.2M rehabilitation project that would have seen areas built for childcare and community rentals. 

Surrey Council approves contract to build new Strawberry Hill Community Hall