Sentencing date set for man convicted of 1st-degree murder

WARNING: This story contains graphic content and may affect those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

The sentencing hearing for the man found guilty in the high-profile murder of a 13-year-old Burnaby girl in 2017 has been scheduled for Friday, June 7, in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.

Ibrahim Ali is facing mandatory life in prison for the crime with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Ali was found guilty of first-degree murder on Dec. 8, 2023, over six years after the body of the girl was found in Burnaby's Central Park. The girl's name is protected by a publication ban.

Jurors took less than 24 hours to reach their verdict at the end of an eight-month trial that had seen adjournments for many reasons, including the mental and physical health of Ali;the death of an expert witness mid-testimony;cases of COVID-19 and other illnesses among jurors;allegations the victim's father had brought a loaded gun to court; and threats of violence against Ali's lawyers.

Crown counsel told the court that the girl was on a trail in Burnaby's Central Park, likely wearing earbuds, when she was attacked, dragged into the woods, sexually assaulted and strangled.

Ali was arrested in 2018 after investigators ran a complicated sting operation to identify whose DNA was found on the girl's body. He has been in custodyever since.

Earlier this month, Justice Lance Bernard dismissed an application to have the case thrown out because of unreasonable delays in the trial process.

Crown said members of the girl's family will be giving victim impact statements during thesentencing hearing and that some would need time to travel from China to Vancouver.

Ali's legal team has filed an appeal.