Judge begins instructing jury in Ibrahim Ali murder trial after delay

The judge in the murder trial of Ibrahim Ali began delivering his instructions to jurors Thursday morning, after a day’s delay.

Ali is charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 13-year-old Burnaby girl, who can’t be named due to a publication ban.

The child’s body was found in July of 2017 at Burnaby’s Central Park, hours after her mother reported the girl missing.

The roughly eight-month-long trial has seen several delays. The judge was supposed to begin his charge to the jury on Wednesday, but the reason for the latest delay can’t be shared because of another publication ban.

Ali pleaded not guilty when his first-degree murder trial began in April. Over the course of the trial, the jury heard from dozens of Crown witnesses, including experts who said the girl was strangled and that the man’s DNA was found inside her body.

Closing arguments took place last week, days after Ali’s lawyer, Kevin McCullough, said the defence would not be calling any evidence, claiming the Crown hadn’t proved its case against Ali.

Crown attorney Daniel Porte said during his remarks that it had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Ali dragged the girl into a wooded area of Central Park, sexually assaulted her, and then killed her.

Once the judge is done delivering his instructions, the jury is free to begin deliberations.