Ibrahim Alahmad, accused of kidnapping and murder, pleads not guilty in St. John's court

A St. John's man accused of kidnapping and murdering a woman in March has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador next spring.

Ibrahim Alahmad, 36, appeared before Chief Justice Raymond Whalen on Monday morning wearing a white T-shirt with a cartoon of a human skeleton holding a rose. His hands were free, but he wore shackles.

It was Alahmad's first in-person appearance since his March 5 arrest and charges of kidnapping and murdering a woman. In previous appearances in the provincial court, Alahmad appeared via video conference from either a hospital room or Her Majesty's Prison.

The victim's name cannot be disclosed due to a comprehensive publication ban that also extends to a long list of witnesses, including the woman's children.

Both prosecutor Kellie Cullihal and defense attorney Jason Edwards agreed to the publication ban.

Through an Arabic interpreter, Alahmad calmly stated that he was not guilty of the alleged premeditated killing and kidnapping.

The jury selection process begins on May 5, 2025.

Alahmad, who is still in custody, glanced over his shoulder into the audience as he was led out of the courtroom by sheriff's officers.

It is the latest move in a case that has shocked the province and especially the city's growing Syrian community.

The woman's body was discovered in an abandoned home in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove on March 5. Alahmad was arrested later that day and taken to hospital with unknown injuries.

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