The accused, Khalid Mohamed, was charged with second degree murder in the stabbing death of Steven Burns.
The facts were largely undisputed: Mohamed stabbed Burns, causing his death.
The central issue was whether Mohamed acted in self-defence or whether provocation would reduce the charge to manslaughter.
The court found that Mohamed had been robbed and assaulted by Burns and others, and that Mohamed stabbed Burns during a struggle for control of a knife.
The court concluded that the Crown had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mohamed’s actions were unreasonable in the circumstances, and acquitted him of second degree murder.
