A disruptive start to the trial of a Calgary man accused of killing his mother and a woman she was looking after.
The bodies of 54-year-old Selma Alem and 25-year-old Julie Tran were found in Alem’s Coventry Hills home in 2015.
They had been stabbed.
Emanuel Kahsai is accused in their deaths and is representing himself but isn’t allowed in the courtroom.
His behaviour has been so erratic and unpredictable the judge barred him from the courtroom saying he could only take part via closed circuit television.
However, following several outbursts from Kahsai on Monday, the judge first cut off the video feed then the audio too.
In the Crown’s opening statement court heard the accused had made death threats against his mother prior to her death and that both victims were found with blunt force injuries to their faces and suffered multiple stab wounds to their face, neck and abdomen.
Samuel Tedros is a friend of Selma’s.
“Selma was a hard worker and eager to learn. She was a generous lady and special to everyone,” says Tedros. “I miss her very much, Selma was a very bright lady, very honest lady, I miss her very much.”
Selma’s sister died two months ago so Tedros will be in court every day and will be updating family and friends in the U.S. and Eritrea about the court case.
