Ibrahim Alahmad, accused of kidnapping and murder, enters not guilty pleas in St. John's court

A St. John's manaccused of kidnapping and murdering a woman in March has entered not guilty pleas, with a trial scheduled for next spring at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ibrahim Alahmad, 36,appeared before Chief Justice Raymond Whalenon Monday morning, wearing a white T-shirt featuring a caricature of a human skeleton carrying a rose on the front. His hands were free, but he was wearing leg restraints.

It was his Alahmad's first in-person appearance since he was arrested on March 5 and charged with the kidnapping and murder of a woman. In previous appearances at provincial court, Alahmad appeared viavideoconferencing from either a hospital room or Her Majesty's Penitentiary.

The victim's name cannot be released because of a sweeping publication ban that also includes a long list of witnesses, including the woman's children.

Crown prosecutor Kellie Cullihal and defence lawyer Jason Edwards both agreed to the publication ban.

Speaking through an Arabic interpreter, Alahmad calmly entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Jury selection will begin on May 5, 2025.

Alahmad, who remains in custody,glanced briefly over his shoulder into the public gallery as he was led away from the courtroom by sheriff's officers.

• Murder case against Ibrahim Alahmad going directly to N.L. Supreme Court

It's the latest step in a case that shocked the province, especially the growing Syrian community in St. John's.

The woman's body was discovered on March 5 at an abandoned house in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove. Alahmad was arrested later that day and hospitalized with undisclosed injuries.

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