Accused testifies about his role in fight, describes moments after Al Marrach stabbed

A teenager testified in his own defence at a murder trial on Friday.

A day after one teen was sentenced in a fatal stabbing, another continued testifying Friday in his own defence.

The 17-year-old is on trial for second-degree murder in the death of Ahmad Al Marrach at the Halifax Shopping Centre parkade, in Halifax in April 2024. The youth and Al Marrach, 16, had agreed to fight over a girl.

He testified he was “shocked” at Al Marrach’s stabbing, and didn’t understand why it happened since he said the planned fight was over. He also detailed the moment he believed the 16-year-old had died.

In her opening statement in January, Crown attorney Sarah Kirby said the Crown agrees the 17-year-old accused did not stab Al Marrach. However, Kirby said the evidence will show the accused planned the group assault, which he knew could lead to the death of Al Marrach.

On Friday, the second day of direct examination by his lawyer, the 17-year-old said on multiple occasions that he thought the fight was over, prior to the fatal stabbing.

Anna Mancini, the boy’s lawyer, reviewed a series of messages leading up to the fight, as well as videos prior to and during the fight.

In texts reviewed in court, Al Marrach at one point said in part, “No weapons” and answered no, when the accused asked if Al Marrach was bringing anyone else to the fight.

A couple of texts sent from the accused were deleted, but he testified his messages said the fight should happen at another time.

The fights

The boy also testified he had no knowledge any of the other three charged in the case would stab the teen, saying it was supposed to be a fight with punches and maybe kicks.

When the accused arrived at the parkade, he and Al Marrach quickly engaged one another.

Video footage played in court shows that, within seconds, two other boys join in. They began punching and kicking Al Marrach, including blows to his head after the skirmish went to the ground.

The accused said Friday he asked them to jump in and help during the fight.

The teen testified he “realized the three-on-one was more unfair than I anticipated,” and thought the fight was over when the boys made it to their feet.

But the teen testified one of his friends started pushing Al Marrach in a so-called “bully circle,” before one made remarks about liking Al Marrach’s shoes.

The accused testified he was “annoyed” at his friend – thinking he was insinuating he wanted Al Marrach’s shoes – because he felt like their fight was done.

Then another one of his friends engaged with Al Marrach, and Al Marrach put him in a headlock, before wrestling him to the ground.

After a skirmish there, with Al Marrach being kicked in the head, he managed to get to his feet once again.

Moments later he walked away but saw commotion out of the side of his eye, the teen said Friday. He looked over and saw Ahmad “holding his chest.”

‘Pretty sure he died’

After the stabbing, the teen recalled one of his friends saying, “Come with me, come with me,” but he refused, saying he wasn’t going to leave Al Marrach.

He testified he was shocked Al Marrach had been stabbed and had no idea why it happened because he thought “for sure” the fight was done.

He described holding Al Marrach’s head for a few moments when he was lying on the ground, saying, “Breathe” and, “Stay with me.”

He’s seen on surveillance video walking away shortly after and his lawyer asked why he left.

“I was pretty sure he died,” the teen testified. “His eyes kept rolling back.”

Part of Al Marrach’s face “went grey,” he told the judge-alone trial.

The accused said he was “scared” because he just saw someone die and “didn’t want to get in trouble.”

He was later arrested while travelling on a Halifax Transit bus. He was taken to Halifax Regional Police Headquarters and was told he was charged with homicide, but wasn’t sure if that meant first or second-degree murder.

“My world kind of dropped for a second,” he said.

The accused testified he had no intention of participating in, or aiding in, Al Marrach’s death – and he had no knowledge that anyone he brought to the fight would hurt him so badly that he could die.

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