Latest news with #Halifax-area
Global News
03-08-2025
- Global News
Teen sentenced to 10 months in custody for role in fatal stabbing of Halifax student
A 17-year-old Halifax-area boy has been sentenced 10 months in a youth detention centre for his role in the stabbing death of a high school student during a brawl over a girl. On Friday, provincial youth court Judge Mark Heerema also sentenced the accused to 17 months of supervision in the community, during which he will continue receiving intensive rehabilitative treatment to deal with mental health issues. Heerema described the crime as 'senseless, tragic and profoundly unfair.' The 27-month sentence was added to the 15 months the young offender has spent in custody since 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach was murdered in a parkade next to the Halifax Shopping Centre on April 22, 2024. The young offender pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October, having admitted he was one of four teens who attacked Al Marrach. The identities of all four of the accused are protected from publication under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Each of them was initially charged with second-degree murder. During previous court hearings, Heerema was shown a series videos showing the group attack and murder. The images were recorded by surveillance cameras in the parkade and by one of the accused — a girl with a cellphone who was 14 at the time. Story continues below advertisement 'It does not get easier to see such cruelty,' Heerema told the court Friday, adding that Al Marrach was the victim of an ambush. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In the videos, Heerema said the 17-year-old can been seen kicking and punching Al Marrach, with about 15 kicks landing on his head after he falls to the pavement. As well, the judge said the accused can been seen brandishing a knife at one point. Court heard that all four of the accused teens were armed with knives when they arrived at the parking garage in the city's west end. Heerema said it was clear the accused knew Al Marrach faced a risk of serious bodily harm. And the judge noted the accused demonstrated a 'cruel and profound lack of humanity' when he casually walked away after another teen stabbed the victim in the chest. 'It captures how cold and callous his actions were that day,' the judge said. Earlier in his life, the young offender had suffered through a turbulent upbringing and was known for drug use, bullying and criminal behaviours that included robbery, assault, breaking and entering, and mischief, Heerema said. At one point, the accused told his mother he wanted to be a gangster and he bragged about his 'tough guy' criminal lifestyle. Still, Heerema said reports submitted to him had suggested the boy had recently said he wanted to turn his life around and submit to intensive counselling, having rejected it in the past. 'A skeptic might say he just wants a lighter sentence,' the judge said, adding that some reports had said the offender's improvement in recent months had not been significant. Story continues below advertisement The judge then spoke directly to the teen, saying, 'You're at a fork in the road. Take a look in the mirror. What kind of man do you want to be?' As for the victim, Heerema said the Grade 10 student 'was a thoughtful, caring and contributing member of his family.' Court heard Al Marrach was a well-liked student at Citadel High School in Halifax. He had arrived in Canada with his parents and six siblings in 2016 after escaping the war in Syria. In October of last year, the accused girl pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to three months in custody followed by two years of supervision in the community. The boy who fatally stabbed Al Marrach, who was 14 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January. His sentencing hearing will resume Sept. 12. Meanwhile, another 17-year-old boy who the Crown said was responsible for organizing the fight, was convicted of manslaughter last month by a youth court judge. His week-long sentencing hearing starts Oct. 20.
Hamilton Spectator
01-08-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Teen sentenced to 10 months in custody for role in fatal stabbing of Halifax student
HALIFAX - A 17-year-old Halifax-area boy has been sentenced 10 months in a youth detention centre for his role in the stabbing death of a high school student during a brawl over a girl. Provincial youth court Judge Mark Heerema also sentenced the accused to 17 months of supervision in the community, during which he will continue receiving intensive rehabilitative treatment for mental health issues. The 27-month sentence was added to the 15 months the young offender has spent in custody since 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach was murdered in a parkade next to the Halifax Shopping Centre on April 22, 2024. The young offender pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October, having admitted he was one of four teens who attacked Al Marrach. All four accused were initially charged with second-degree murder, but a girl who was 14 at the time of the killing pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October and was sentenced to three months in custody followed by two years of supervision in the community. The boy who fatally stabbed Al Marrach, who was 14 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January, and his sentencing hearing will resume Sept. 12. Meanwhile, another 17-year-old boy who the Crown said was responsible for organizing the fight, was convicted of manslaughter last month by a youth court judge. His weeklong sentencing hearing starts Oct. 20. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
01-08-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teen sentenced to 10 months in custody for role in fatal stabbing of Halifax student
HALIFAX – A 17-year-old Halifax-area boy has been sentenced 10 months in a youth detention centre for his role in the stabbing death of a high school student during a brawl over a girl. Provincial youth court Judge Mark Heerema also sentenced the accused to 17 months of supervision in the community, during which he will continue receiving intensive rehabilitative treatment for mental health issues. The 27-month sentence was added to the 15 months the young offender has spent in custody since 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach was murdered in a parkade next to the Halifax Shopping Centre on April 22, 2024. The young offender pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October, having admitted he was one of four teens who attacked Al Marrach. All four accused were initially charged with second-degree murder, but a girl who was 14 at the time of the killing pleaded guilty to manslaughter in October and was sentenced to three months in custody followed by two years of supervision in the community. The boy who fatally stabbed Al Marrach, who was 14 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January, and his sentencing hearing will resume Sept. 12. Meanwhile, another 17-year-old boy who the Crown said was responsible for organizing the fight, was convicted of manslaughter last month by a youth court judge. His weeklong sentencing hearing starts Oct. 20. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
N.S. family says $85K surgery in U.S. might be daughter's only hope to walk again
Nora Nunn-Murphy doesn't know how her Halifax-area family will come up with nearly $85,000 for a rare hip surgery in the United States, but she knows she has to try. If not, her daughter may have little hope of walking as she gets older. Nunn-Murphy's seven-year-old daughter, Brenna Benoit, has cerebral palsy and a condition called hip dysplasia, which is forcing her hip to fully dislocate from the socket. Brenna used to be able to stand up and walk with the help of braces and a walker, but now gets around in her pink and blue wheelchair. Nunn-Murphy sees Brenna's hip mobility deteriorating and worries if she doesn't get the right treatment soon, her hip will be inoperable. She and her husband, Al Benoit, said they believe they have no option but to forgo the Nova Scotia health-care system and head to a surgeon in New Jersey who performs a hip surgery known as the café door procedure. The surgery releases tight muscles and connective tissue so the hip joint can sit better in the socket and move more freely. Nunn-Murphy said it's less invasive than other hip surgeries and is performed by only a handful of surgeons in the world. "That's a hard pill to swallow when you're living in a province that you feel like nobody can help you," Nunn-Murphy said in an interview at the family's home in Middle Sackville, N.S. "And by the time they do help you, it feels like it's a little bit too late." Brenna loves music, wheelchair basketball and swimming. She has a contagious laugh and a big smile. But she's been dealing with compounding health issues for her whole life, and Nunn-Murphy left work to provide full-time care and advocate for her. In 2022, CBC News covered the family's attempt to get financial support from the province, and their goal of getting Brenna to the U.S. for a different procedure to help her feet and ankles. 'You end up just spiralling' Brenna is a patient at the IWK Health Centre, a children's hospital in Halifax, where she's eligible for a surgery called an osteotomy to treat her hip dysplasia. But Nunn-Murphy said after many conversations with the surgeon who would perform the surgery, she concluded this option isn't right for her daughter. She said the procedure is mainly for chronic pain management, not to increase her hip functionality. And she said no rehabilitation would be available to Brenna afterward, which means Nunn-Murphy and Benoit would be responsible for that at home. "The surgery that's offered here could take away her ability to ever stand and use her walker again, which just means quality of life goes down for Brenna," Nunn-Murphy said. As she looked for other options within the local health-care system, Nunn-Murphy felt she was running out of time. She said in the past, Brenna had waited nine months to get her wheelchair fitted, 11 months to receive the wheelchair, and more than a year to get braces for her feet. "As a parent now for seven and a half years in this system, I know we don't have time to take those steps where things are constantly getting lost, people don't call you back," Nunn-Murphy said. "You basically get a run around, and you end up just spiralling because you don't know what to do next." She decided to reach out to Dr. Roy Nuzzo, the surgeon who performed Brenna's last surgery in the U.S., and he introduced her to the café door procedure. As she researched it, she felt it could be Brenna's best chance. The family booked the surgery for November. Nunn-Murphy said the last time Brenna went to the U.S. for a surgery, she tried to get it covered by Nova Scotia's Medical Services Insurance, but her daughter's doctors wouldn't write letters in support of the procedure. This time, she felt she didn't have time to try. Health minister interview cancelled CBC News scheduled an interview Thursday morning with Nova Scotia Health Minister Michelle Thompson to respond to Nunn-Murphy's concerns about the health-care system, and the fact the family will pay more than $85,000 to receive care in the U.S. When CBC showed up for the interview, a department spokesperson said it was cancelled because department staff wanted to speak with the family first. In an emailed statement, Thompson said she understands this a difficult situation for everyone involved. "I recognize there are situations where procedures and treatments are not available in the province," the statement said. "Even in these situations, we make every effort to support the delivery of care where it is available, if the patient is eligible." Nunn-Murphy said Thursday afternoon, a Health Department employee called her to walk her through the process of asking Brenna's doctor for a referral letter and applying for coverage for the procedure, saying the family is now "front and centre" with the department. IWK says its surgery can increase quality of life for patients In an email, an IWK Health Centre spokesperson said she is unable to comment on Brenna's case due to patient privacy, but responded to general questions about the health care offered at the hospital. Andrea Slaney said the osteotomy procedure available at the IWK "can include pain relief, improved hip function, reduced risk of hip dislocation, improved seating, improved daily personal care, and reduced risk of arthritis in the future, which has a substantial impact on quality of life." Slaney also said IWK rehabilitation services works with the orthopedic care team "to provide the best evidence-based care to patients." She did not respond to questions about whether the IWK is aware of the café door procedure and if it is recommended for patients. Nunn-Murphy said she had given literature on the procedure to Brenna's surgeon in Halifax, who said he would look into it on his own time, which she appreciated. But she didn't hear back from him for around two months, and only after CBC News contacted the hospital. Brenna's family is now focusing on fundraising $100,000 to cover both the surgery and its related costs, including rehabilitation, braces and travel. The payment for the surgery is due on Nov. 1. They've launched an online fundraiser and plan to hold community events like a raffle and a benefit dance. "This has been my career," Nunn-Murphy said. "I want to be her mom, but I also have to be everything else.… There's just so many shortfalls." MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
25-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
N.S. family says $85K surgery in U.S. might be daughter's only hope to walk again
Nora Nunn-Murphy doesn't know how her Halifax-area family will come up with nearly $85,000 for a rare hip surgery in the United States, but she knows she has to try. If not, her daughter may have little hope of walking as she gets older. Nunn-Murphy's seven-year-old daughter, Brenna Benoit, has cerebral palsy and a condition called hip dysplasia, which is forcing her hip to fully dislocate from the socket. Brenna used to be able to stand up and walk with the help of braces and a walker, but now gets around in her pink and blue wheelchair. Nunn-Murphy sees Brenna's hip mobility deteriorating and worries if she doesn't get the right treatment soon, her hip will be inoperable. She and her husband, Al Benoit, said they believe they have no option but to forgo the Nova Scotia health-care system and head to a surgeon in New Jersey who performs a hip surgery known as the café door procedure. The surgery releases tight muscles and connective tissue so the hip joint can sit better in the socket and move more freely. Nunn-Murphy said it's less invasive than other hip surgeries and is performed by only a handful of surgeons in the world. "That's a hard pill to swallow when you're living in a province that you feel like nobody can help you," Nunn-Murphy said in an interview at the family's home in Middle Sackville, N.S. "And by the time they do help you, it feels like it's a little bit too late." Brenna loves music, wheelchair basketball and swimming. She has a contagious laugh and a big smile. But she's been dealing with compounding health issues for her whole life, and Nunn-Murphy left work to provide full-time care and advocate for her. In 2022, CBC News covered the family's attempt to get financial support from the province, and their goal of getting Brenna to the U.S. for a different procedure to help her feet and ankles. 'You end up just spiralling' Brenna is a patient at the IWK Health Centre, a children's hospital in Halifax, where she's eligible for a surgery called an osteotomy to treat her hip dysplasia. But Nunn-Murphy said after many conversations with the surgeon who would perform the surgery, she concluded this option isn't right for her daughter. She said the procedure is mainly for chronic pain management, not to increase her hip functionality. And she said no rehabilitation would be available to Brenna afterward, which means Nunn-Murphy and Benoit would be responsible for that at home. "The surgery that's offered here could take away her ability to ever stand and use her walker again, which just means quality of life goes down for Brenna," Nunn-Murphy said. After years-long battle, Halifax woman gets out-of-province surgery paid for by N.S. As she looked for other options within the local health-care system, Nunn-Murphy felt she was running out of time. She said in the past, Brenna had waited nine months to get her wheelchair fitted, 11 months to receive the wheelchair, and more than a year to get braces for her feet. "As a parent now for seven and a half years in this system, I know we don't have time to take those steps where things are constantly getting lost, people don't call you back," Nunn-Murphy said. "You basically get a run around, and you end up just spiraling because you don't know what to do next." She decided to reach out to Dr. Roy Nuzzo, the surgeon who performed Brenna's last surgery in the U.S., and he introduced her to the café door procedure. As she researched it, she felt it could be Brenna's best chance. The family booked the surgery for November. Nunn-Murphy said the last time Brenna went to the U.S. for a surgery, she tried to get it covered by Nova Scotia's Medical Services Insurance, but her daughter's doctors wouldn't write letters in support of the procedure. This time, she felt she didn't have time to try. Health minister interview cancelled CBC News scheduled an interview Thursday morning with Nova Scotia Health Minister Michelle Thompson to respond to Nunn-Murphy's concerns about the health-care system, and the fact the family will pay more than $85,000 to receive care in the U.S. When CBC showed up for the interview, a department spokesperson said it was cancelled because department staff wanted to speak with the family first. In an emailed statement, Thompson said she understands this a difficult situation for everyone involved. "I recognize there are situations where procedures and treatments are not available in the province," the statement said. "Even in these situations, we make every effort to support the delivery of care where it is available, if the patient is eligible." Nunn-Murphy said Thursday afternoon, a Health Department employee called her to walk her through the process of asking Brenna's doctor for a referral letter and applying for coverage for the procedure, saying the family is now "front and centre" with the department. IWK says its surgery can increase quality of life for patients In an email, an IWK Health Centre spokesperson said she is unable to comment on Brenna's case due to patient privacy, but responded to general questions about the health care offered at the hospital. Andrea Slaney said the osteotomy procedure available at the IWK "can include pain relief, improved hip function, reduced risk of hip dislocation, improved seating, improved daily personal care, and reduced risk of arthritis in the future, which has a substantial impact on quality of life." Slaney also said IWK rehabilitation services works with the orthopedic care team "to provide the best evidence-based care to patients." She did not respond to questions about whether the IWK is aware of the café door procedure and if it is recommended for patients. Nunn-Murphy said she had given literature on the procedure to Brenna's surgeon in Halifax, who said he would look into it on his own time, which she appreciated. But she didn't hear back from him for around two months, and only after CBC News contacted the hospital. Brenna's family is now focusing on fundraising $100,000 to cover both the surgery and its related costs, including rehabilitation, braces and travel. The payment for the surgery is due on Nov. 1. They've launched an online fundraiser and plan to hold community events like a raffle and a benefit dance. "This has been my career," Nunn-Murphy said. "I want to be her mom, but I also have to be everything else ... There's just so many shortfalls."
