'We were scared': Friend of teen who was stabbed outside Halifax mall testifies at murder trial

A second-degree murder trial in the death of Ahmad Al Marrach heard from one of the victim’s friends Wednesday.

The witness, whose identity is protected by publication ban, said through a translator that he was friends with Al Marrach and was with him during the attack outside the Halifax Shopping Centre on April 22, 2024.

The identity of the accused in this case, a 17-year-old boy, is also protected by a publication ban under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. He’s charged with second-degree murder. His lawyers said the Crown does not have the evidence to prove her client planned, encouraged or participated in the fatal stabbing.

Two other youths have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while another youth, the alleged killer, is set to stand trial next month.

The witness told the judge-alone trial that he and some friends were at Tim Horton’s on Mumford Road before three of them – including Al Marrach – proceeded to the Halifax Shopping Centre parkade.

He testified Al Marrach was messaging someone and that he knew there would be a fight.

Upon arrival, he noticed there were other youths in the area. At that point, he went back to Tim Horton’s to get the attention of some friends because “we were afraid some of them might interfere.”

“It was supposed to be one-on-one,” he testified via translator.

The youths ran back to the parkade and when they arrived, Al Marrach was in a fight with another youth.

The witness testified he saw Al Marrach with a bloody nose, He also saw a boy punch Al Marrach in the face and while Al Marrach had the youth in a headlock, a girl pushed him to the ground and started kicking him in the face.

He said he observed at least one of the youths present a knife, preventing Al Marrach’s supporters from intervening.

“[One of the youths] held a knife and he was pointing it towards us and we were scared,” the witness testified. “We did not expect any one of them to take a knife.”

The witness told the trial Al Marrach managed to get up and he thought the fight was over.

But then, he said Al Marrach ran after the girl when he saw her attempting to steal his bag, or something from his bag.

Al Marrach threw the girl to the side and he retrieved his bag, the witness said.

“After Ahmad ran and took his bag, suddenly [one of the youths] had a knife and he attacked Ahmad,” said the boy.

“The situation was really difficult,” the witness said, describing his friend getting stabbed.

Along with another witness, the boy called 911 and passed the phone to a friend who could speak better English.

He said after Al Marrach was taken to hospital, he and his friends followed. That’s where the 16-year-old was pronounced dead.

The trial resumes on Thursday.

-With a file from The Canadian Press 

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.