|
Vows to return to Somalia
after charges dropped against son's accused killers
By IAN ROBERTSON
TORONTO, February 27, 2009 -- Feeling betrayed and sad after yesterday's
release of two men accused of killing his son, Ahmed Abdikarim Mohammed
said he will take his wife and their five children back to Africa "this
week."
"Canada is nothing ... the Canadian government is nothing," he said at
the front door of the family's modest North York bungalow, in the
Dufferin St.-Lawrence Ave. W. area.
"I go," Mohammed, 58, told the Sun. "My plan is this week to go, all
together."
Charges were dropped yesterday against Owen Anthony Smith and Wendell
Damian Cuff, both 25, in the March 14, 2008, shooting of 18-year-old
Abdikarim Ahmed Abdikarim in Lawrence Heights.
Prosecutor Joe Callaghan cited "insufficient" evidence.
'I GIVE YOU EVERYTHING'
A friend said Mohammed was captain of Somalia's national soccer team in
the 1970s and '80s and a onetime bodyguard for Qatar's sultan.
"I die in Somalia," the victim's father said. "That's the end for me."
A cabbie here, Mohammed added, "I give you the plates, I give you
everything. I don't want to be a cab driver."
The grieving dad said he must leave the body of his son buried until
arrangements can be made for it to be exhumed and shipped to Somalia.
Though the family of the slain teen will be on the other side of the
world, Mohammed said any arrangements would be aided by friends here,
and the Somalian community.
After the fatal shooting, which also left five of the George Harvey
Collegiate Grade 12 victim's friends wounded, Shamso Mohamoud told a
reporter her slain son's last words to her were a promise: "'Mommy,
don't worry. I'm going to be back at 9:30 for sure.'"
More than 2,000 people attended the teen's funeral.
Earlier yesterday outside court, two Somali community members approached
reporters with angry comments about the two men's release.
Barlin Ali, who said she grew up in the African country with Abdikirim's
mother, calling him "like my son," said "there is no justice in Canada.
"Why did these people go to jail for 11 months and they are not
criminal?" she said.
Somalian community leader Mohamed Gilao said "we feel unsafe in Canada,"
despite surveillance cameras "everywhere."
Gilao, a grieving dad himself, alleged continuing racism against blacks
and vowed the Somalian community is "going to fight back."
His son Loyan Ahmed Gilao, 22, was gunned down with a friend outside the
Phoenix Nightclub on Aug. 8, 2005. His killer has never been caught.
IAN.ROBERTSON@SUNMEDIA.CA
Source: The Sun
|
