Ibrahim Ali’s lawyers have announced to the jury that they will not be presenting any evidence in defense against the allegations that he sexually assaulted and murdered a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby, B.C. Defense lawyer Kevin McCullough argued that the Crown has not met the burden of proof to find Ali guilty.
The evidentiary portion of the trial has concluded. Justice Lance Bernard informed the jury on Nov. 21 that closing arguments from both the Crown and defense are expected to begin in about a week. The next stage will involve hearing the closing addresses, followed by final instructions from the judge and the start of deliberations on the verdict.
Mr. Ali entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murdering the teenager, whose name is protected by a publication ban. The girl’s body was discovered in Burnaby’s Central Park in July 2017, shortly after her mother reported her missing.
The jury heard from nearly 50 Crown witnesses, including police, civilians, and experts. One significant witness was Christine Crossman, an RCMP forensic biologist, who testified that Ali’s DNA was found inside the girl’s body.
The jury also heard from police officers who found the body, those who handled DNA evidence, and others involved in Ali’s arrest. The girl’s family and a friend also testified about their interactions with her on the day she died.
Dr. Jason Morin, a forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy, testified that the girl had been strangled and had multiple injuries on her body. Additionally, the jury heard from a sexual assault expert who stated that the injuries suggested that she had been sexually assaulted.
The Crown alleged that evidence would show the girl was walking through the park when she was attacked, sexually assaulted, and strangled. The defense did not share its theory of events with the jury.