Halifax mall stabbing: Medical examiner testifies about teen’s fatal wound

Medical examiner testifies at NS murder trial

Warning: Some readers might find the content disturbing

Nova Scotia’s deputy chief medical examiner testified Thursday about conducting an autopsy on the body of a 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed outside the Halifax Shopping Centre last year.

Dr. Erik Mont said, before producing his report, he was told Ahmad Al Marrach was punched and kicked during an altercation with at least one other person and suffered a fatal stab wound.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

That altercation and stabbing happened on April 22, 2024, in the Halifax Shopping Centre parkade after a planned one-on-one fight between Al Marrach and another teen over a girl, the trial has heard.

Four teenagers have been charged in his death. Two of those youths have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while two others are facing trials for second-degree murder.

One of those youths, a 17-year-old boy, has been on trial for the past two weeks, but the Crown and defence have already agreed he is not the one who stabbed Al Marrach.

Wound estimated to be 8-10 inches deep

Mont said the teen was stabbed in the chest – through his heart and left lung – with the wound ending down below his armpit area. The wound was estimated to be eight-to-10 inches deep, he said.

He also discovered injuries that are consistent with “a physical altercation.” There were “a number of” blunt-force injuries to Al Marrach’s head, neck and extremities, he testified.

What’s next?

Mont was the lone witness to testify Thursday as the Crown’s case winds down. Next week is also set aside for the trial, with some legal arguments expected and possibly more testimony. Then, there will be a weeks-long break before the trial resumes in April.

Meanwhile, a sentencing hearing for the two youths who pleaded guilty to manslaughter is scheduled for Tuesday.

As for the youth who allegedly stabbed Al Marrach, his second-degree murder trial is set to begin on Feb. 24.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page