Deadly Pembina restaurant incident began with selfie, court hears

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This article was published 12/01/2021 (1905 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What began as a dispute over a restaurant customer’s attempt to take a selfie escalated to a violent confrontation that left one man dead and another in hospital, a judge heard Monday.

A three-week trial has begun for Mahfuthmm Assi, charged with second-degree murder in the April 2019 stabbing death of 20-year-old Yazan Al Horani outside the Ramallah Café restaurant and hookah lounge, and attempted murder in the stabbing of a second man, Moussa Almoussa.

Assi, a former server at the Pembina Highway restaurant, offered pleas to the reduced counts of manslaughter and aggravated assault, which were not accepted by the Crown.

“So, the trial will proceed,” prosecutor Sue Baragar told Queen’s Bench Justice Anne Turner.

Al Horani and his family emigrated from Syria in 2017 after years spent in a refugee camp in Jordan, a family friend told the Free Press following his death. Al Horani was taking adult-education courses, had started a new job at Blady Middle Eastern grocery store and was recently engaged to be married.

The trial proceeded slowly Monday with three Arabic interpreters taking turns translating for Assi.

Almoussa, Al Horani and several friends arrived at the restaurant shortly before 11 p.m. to celebrate Almoussa’s 20th birthday, Baragar told Turner in an opening address.

“Shortly after arriving, Mr. Almoussa decided he wanted to take a selfie of himself and his friends at the party,” Baragar said.

Unsatisfied with a picture he took on the floor, Almoussa stood on a table for another picture, angering Assi, who “took offence to Mr. Almoussa standing on the furniture.”

The two men argued and were on their way to speak to a manager when the dispute escalated to an exchange of threats and insults, and Assi allegedly head-butting Almoussa, Baragar said.

Almoussa grabbed a knife from a table before friends separated the two men and convinced Almoussa to drop it.

The restaurant manager told Almoussa, Al Horani and their friends to leave, which they did, and told Assi he was done for the night, Baragar said.

Assi left through the kitchen, grabbing a knife along the way when he was stopped by a cook who tried to calm him down, Baragar said. Assi “pushed past the cook,” walked out the back door and started his car before walking to the street where Al Horani, Almoussa and their friends were still lingering.

Assi “immediately went for Almoussa,” when Al Horani stepped in his path, Baragar said. Assi stabbed Al Horani two times, then stabbed Almoussa three times, leaving both men crumpled on the ground.

Assi went back to his car and drove away. He was arrested a day later east of Kenora by Ontario Provincial Police.

Al Horani died at the scene, while Almoussa was taken to hospital and recovered.

Almoussa is expected to testify Tuesday.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca