Police charge 4th teen with murder in stabbing outside Halifax mall

Halifax police have charged a fourth teen with second-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach, who was fatally stabbed last week outside the Halifax Shopping Centre.

The accused, who is 16 years old, appeared in Halifax youth court on Thursday morning. He was already in custody on other charges, including breaching conditions of a previous sentence. Court was told that he is also facing federal drug charges.

Two 14-year-olds were charged with second-degree murder in the days after Al Marrach's death, and a third teen, who is 16, was charged earlier this week. 

During Thursday morning's hearing, the 14-year-old boy appeared by video from jail to face an additional charge of sexual assault.

Both 16-year-olds were initially arrested by officers on a Halifax Transit bus about 20 minutes after police were called to the scene of Al Marrach's stabbing in a mall parkade shortly after 5 p.m. on April 22.

The pair were released by police without charge, but were arrested again this week.

All four teens accused of murder will return to youth court on May 13 to face all outstanding charges.

Al Marrach was a student at Citadel High School in central Halifax. He came to Canada eight years ago with his family, who were refugees from Syria.

The identities of all the accused are banned from publication due to their ages.