Ottawa Man’s murder Case Stalled for Second Time Due to Trial Delays
For the second time, an Ottawa man has seen a first-degree murder case collapse before reaching trial due to issues with prosecution management. Defense lawyers successfully argued that Ahmed Siyad’s right to a trial within a reasonable timeframe was violated in a case stemming from a 2021 shooting that killed two of three brothers.
Superior Court Justice Ian Carter ruled on Friday, January 5, 2024, leading to Siyad’s release from the Ottawa courthouse. Co-accused Abdullahi “Avon” Osman remains in custody due to an existing warrant.
The case centered around an alleged drive-by shooting on July 22, 2021, targeting three brothers in the Alta Vista neighbourhood of Ottawa.Two of the brothers, mohamad Siyad and Abdirahman Siyad, were killed. The third brother was injured.
Justice Carter’s ruling focused on delays in bringing the case to trial. The judge determined the delays were not attributable to the defence, and were a result of systemic issues within the prosecution’s handling of the case.This is the second time Siyad has benefited from such a ruling; a previous first-degree murder charge against him was also dropped in 2018 due to unreasonable delays.
The Crown Attorney’s office has not yet commented on whether it will appeal the decision.
Osman is still facing charges related to the shooting. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 19, 2024.