Man charged in killing of 13-year-old Burnaby girl found guilty of 1st-degree murder

WARNING: This story contains details of sexual violence.

Ibrahim Ali, the man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby, B.C., has been found guiltyby a Supreme Court jury.

The jury came back with its decision minutes after asking thejudge to clarify the differences between first- and second-degreemurder and manslaughter.

Justice Lance Bernard told them murder would mean Alideliberately caused the girl's death or meant to cause her bodilyharm and knew that this was likely to cause death.

Bernard said it would qualify as first-degree murder if it happened while Ali committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault against the girl, whose name is protected by a publication ban.

Ali had little reaction to the verdict and those in the packed courtroom were quiet as the verdict was read out.

He pleaded not guilty when the extensive trial began in April.

Crown prosecutors told the jurythevictim, whose name is protected by a publication ban,was passing through Burnaby Central Park on July 18, 2017, when she was attacked and dragged into the woods before she was sexually assaulted and strangled to death.

Ali was arrested over a year later on Sept. 7, 2018. His DNA was found inside the girl's body.

The jury heard from dozens of witnesses called by Crown prosecutors, including police officers, pathologists who studied her body and brain,DNA analysts, andthe victim's friends and family.

The defence did not call any witnesses in the trial, withAli's lawyer tellingthe jury thatthe Crown hadn't proved its case against Ali.

Later, outside the courthouse, members of the public who werein the courtroomexpressed relief over the guilty verdict.

"We have a conclusion today that guilty is guilty," said LK Tam. "I'm very happy that the Canadian court has achieved justice."

"Justice has finally been served," said Burnaby resident Juan Mei."The process has been too long. It's closure in terms of the procedure [but] the pain will never end."