Murder suspect’s anger issues known

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This article was published 28/01/2014 (4311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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It was only recently a Manitoba judge said she was so worried about Mowlid Korane Mohamed’s anger issues she rebuffed the protests of lawyers and put him on probation conditions in hopes of keeping him in check.

On Monday, however, Winnipeg police said Mohamed, 26, will face murder, attempted murder and other charges in connection with a weekend attack that killed a well-liked city musician and left another young man injured.

Joshua Bentley, 18, was stabbed Friday night in an area not far from the Osborne Bridge. A 20-year-old man was also injured but survived.

Bentley, the other victim and two young women they were with, fled across the east sidewalk of the bridge. Emergency crews ultimately found the men around 11:30 p.m. and rushed each to hospital in critical condition.

Bentley died of his wounds while the other victim’s medical condition stabilized after treatment and he was released, police said.

The victims and suspect were at the same party that evening at the Evergreen Place apartment complex, but otherwise didn’t know each other, police said.

The suspect left the party but waited in his car until the victims came out and then immediately confronted them, Const. Jason Michalyshen said. He could not speak to a potential motive. “It’s still unknown,” Michalyshen said.

Mohamed also faces allegations he assaulted and uttered threats to a 19-year-old woman that evening.

Mohamed is associated with the African Mafia street gang and goes by the street name of Soldier, said a police gang expert’s report. Police acknowledged they’ve had “significant” prior involvement with him.

He was last in court in September, where he received 90 days of time served in jail for punching a 39-year-old woman in relation to a domestic dispute, driving while disqualified and breaching a curfew.

“I’m straight-up (African) Mafia,” he told police after a Feb. 18 arrest.

He’s been monitored by the Gang Response and Suppression Program (GRASP) in the past, court heard.

Judge Heather Pullan put Mohamed back on probation Sept. 4 despite opposition from his lawyer, who claimed the level of oversight police and probation officers were subjecting him to bordered on harassment.

“There are many issues here,” said Pullan. “Anger management not the least of them.”

Bentley’s friends described him as loved and passionate about music. “People gravitated toward him. He touched a lot of lives,” Sabrina Schick said.

A graduate of St. Norbert Collegiate, Bentley was the lead singer in the hardcore rock group Empty Hands, friends and family told the Free Press.

james.turner@freepress.mb.ca