Michael Leblanc charged with murder in stabbing death of Mohamed Ali Hassan
CBC News | Posted: February 23, 2016 11:08 AM | Last Updated: February 23, 2016
Monday night stabbing in Lawson Park is Ottawa's 3rd homicide of 2016
A 26-year-old man with a criminal record has been charged with second-degree murder after a 19-year-old man was stabbed to death in an Overbrook park Monday night.
Mohamed Ali Hassan was in a group of at least three when he was stabbed in Lawson Park, near King George and Isidore streets just steps from Queen Mary Street Public School, at about 9:30 p.m., according to Ottawa police.
Hassan was transported to hospital and died shortly after, police said.
Michael Leblanc, 26, appeared in an Ottawa courtroom Tuesday afternoon to face the charge, and was ordered not to communicate with any members of Hassan's family.
Leblanc was already scheduled to appear in court today on charges of theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen property dating back to Dec. 20, 2015.
He was previously convicted of theft and sentenced to pay more than $6,000 in restitution in May 2012.
He was later sentenced to spend 300 days in jail after being convicted of counselling somebody to commit a criminal offence and failing to comply with a bail condition in September 2013.
Most recently, he was convicted of failing to comply with a probation order in August 2015.
Leblanc was remanded into custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for March 3.
A search warrant was also executed at his home on King George Street, police said.
'I heard sobbing'
Rayne Gillard, who lives in the neighbourhood, told CBC News a "distraught" man was standing over another person on a path at the edge of the park last night shouting that someone was hurt.
"I heard sobbing," he said. "He was breaking down. You could barely understand the words that he said."
It's Ottawa third homicide of 2016.
The major crimes unit is investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to call the unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5493.