AJAs 2024 Finalists
'He is going to kill me': did the justice system fail slain St. John's woman?
| Slug/Label | He is Going to Kill Me |
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| Date Aired or Published | March 28, 2024, March 29, 2024, May 10, 2024 |
| Media outlet where first aired or published: | The Telegram/ PNI Atlantic |
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Short explanation of the story and how it developed: These stories are three from a series of pieces I have written about the homicide of a St. John's mother of five, who was found dead in an abandoned house on the outskirts of town. A man known to her, Ibrahim Al Ahmad, has been charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder in connection with her death, and he remains in prison as his case makes its way through the court system. I will continue to cover it. My coverage of this case began on the day the homicide occurred- I received a tip that police were attending a murder scene, and was able to confirm details with investigators and court officials. I attended Al Ahmad's first court appearance, where a publication ban was implemented on the identities of the victim and her children. In the courtroom were two of the woman's friends, and I introduced myself to them. Over the next number of weeks, I developed a relationship with the two women, and they opened to me about the situation and chilling details surrounding the woman's calls for help from police and the courts in the months before she was killed. Al Ahmad had been charged with a list of violent crimes against her and the children just six weeks before he was arrested for murder, and was released on bail. Wondering how the justice system could find he warranted release, I inquired at the court whether a publication ban had been implemented at his bail hearing, and was told no. I ordered the audio recording of the bail hearing, and it chilled me to listen to it. The details of the assault allegations were the worst I've heard in my career, and to hear of the woman's efforts to get help for herself and her children was heartbreaking. She had told police he was going to kill her, begged the court not to release him, and lived in terror when it died, up to the day her fear came came true. These were challenging stories to write, given I could not identify the relationship between the accused and the victim, and had to be careful when reporting on the very important issues of public concern involved. When the defence realized no publication ban had been requested at the initial bail hearing - the hearing for which I had the audio - it applied to the court to have one implemented retroactively. I was the only reporter who had obtained the audio recording and reported on the bail hearing. These three stories were the start of my examination into the justice system's handling of this woman's case, whether it failed her, and the systemic barriers that exist for women who report violence, on several levels. Since writing these pieces, women in the community have contacted me to share their stories of intimate partner violence and frustration with a system that, in many cases, leaves them more at risk than if they had not reported the crimes at all. I've spoken with police, lawyers, advocates and others who agree that intimate partner violence in Newfoundland and Labrador is an epidemic that the court doesn't always appear to recognize as it should. I made a point of including resources for survivors of intimate partner violence in my coverage. For this submission, I have included the text of the stories, as well as screenshots of them on The Telegram/PNI Atlantic website as proof of publication. |
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Resources of the newsroom (money and time) available to complete the story: I am one of seven reporters at The Telegram. These stories were completed apart from my regular daily justice beat coverage, during the work day and after hours. |
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