Ongoing pre-trial motions have resulted in a fifth trial date being set for the man accused of murdering Marrisa Shen in July 2017, more than five years ago.
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The trial date for the man accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby’s Central Park more than five years ago has been pushed back again, for the fourth time, to early next year.
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The trial of Ibrahim Ali, charged in September 2018 with the first-degree murder of Marrisa Shen in July 2017, was due to start on September 19 in Vancouver but has been postponed until January 16 next year.
Marrisa’s family could not be reached for comment on the long-delayed case, but a victims’ rights group said that while the court process may bring some relief, it is important to realize that it is never easier for victims. relatives of crime victims.
“They wake up in pain and the pain goes on and on and they’re the ones getting life in prison,” said Lozanne Wamback, executive director of the Canadian Foundation for Victims of Crime, an Ontario-based group.
“So let’s do everything we can to make it easier for them and these delays that go on and on add to their stress and pain. So I think there has to be a better way to speed up this process because I hear this over and over again.”
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The trial date was initially set for September 2020, but jury selection was canceled and the court said the trial would not start until September 2021.
That date was later pushed back to January 10, 2022 to accommodate various pre-trial requests. But that trial date was also reserved and moved to September 19 due to ongoing motions being heard by Judge Lance Bernard in the absence of the jury.
Now, the fifth date is set for next January 16.
A publication ban on the case, routinely imposed for jury trials and intended to ensure defendants’ rights to a fair trial, prevents the media from reporting details of the applications to the judge.
In an email, the BC Prosecution Service said it could confirm that Ali’s trial has been postponed until January.
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“It has been necessary to postpone the trial to accommodate several pre-trial requests that cannot be reported due to publication bans,” said Dan McLaughlin, Communications Advisor for the BC Public Prosecution Service.
“Although the trial is currently expected to last three to four months, the length of the trial will be affected by the results of the pre-trial requests.”
Wamback said he thinks the publication ban that muzzles reports of pretrial proceedings is also stressful for family members because they often receive support when a case goes public.
“So I find that posting bans are just further victimization for families,” he said Monday. “They are forced to suffer in silence when there is a publication ban.”
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Trial of man accused of Marrisa Shen’s murder postponed again
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Ibrahim Ali, 28, charged with first-degree murder of Burnaby teen Marrisa Shen
Ali’s case has far exceeded the maximum 30-month limit set by the Supreme Court of Canada for cases to be tried in the higher courts, but it is unclear whether the defendant’s lawyers will file an application for a stay due to an alleged misconduct. unreasonable delay.
McLaughlin said he would not comment on the merits of any application, ongoing or hypothetical, while the matter is before the court.
Marrisa was reported missing by her family when she did not return home by 11 p.m. on July 18, 2017. The girl’s body was found early the next morning in Central Park.
Ali, not to be confused with another individual of the same name and year of birth who was convicted of a fatal hit-and-run in 2016, was arrested following an investigation by the Homicide Integrated Investigation Team.
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