Hussein Ibrahim gets 9 years in prison for killing Natasha Farah
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: April 29, 2016 8:49 PM | Last Updated: April 30, 2016
Ibrahim was originally charged with 2nd-degree murder
With no apparent motive, Hussein Ibrahim has pleaded guilty to shooting dead Natasha Farah outside a Calgary nightclub in August 2014.
Farah, 26, was shot as she and a group of people were standing outside the Bronco club after it closed. It was exactly one year since she'd moved from Toronto to Calgary.
On Friday, in front of his victim's mother, who was visiting from Toronto, Ibrahim, 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Originally he'd been charged with second-degree murder.
Defence lawyer Allan Fay and prosecutor Adam May proposed a nine year sentence, which Justice Earl Wilson approved.
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Ten victim impact statements were read, mostly from friends who were so close to Farah, many called her their sister.
One was so grateful for Farah's kindness and generosity, he had a school in Somalia built in her name.
"A beautiful soul," wrote one friend. "A soul that knew no colour and no boundaries."
Farah's mother quietly cried as Crown prosecutor Adam May read her statement to the court.
"Everytime I remember this nightmare, I cry," wrote Naima Ismail. "God grant her heaven."
Ibrahim was at the bar that night with two friends. He and one of those friends each had a handgun, according to the agreed statement of facts.
On the night of Aug. 23, 2014, Ibrahim got into a car belonging to the acquaintance of a friend.
As he was getting into the Jetta, Ibrahim began firing shots into the air. His friend also fired his gun.
After that, Ibrahim shot into the crowd of people in front of the bar.
Farah was hit in the chest by one of the bullets from Ibrahim's gun. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
When given the chance to address his victim's family, Ibrahim asked for their forgiveness.
"I'm here today to let the family know I am deeply sorry," said Ibrahim. "I had no intentions to cause harm."
Farah's mother said she hoped Ibrahim's apology was sincere.
"In my faith, no matter what, you have to forgive. If you don't forgive you will never move on. I don't want to carry anger," said Ismail.
Justice Earl Wilson had some scathing words for Ibrahim before he handed down the jointly proposed nine year sentence.
"You have regret, they have pain," said Wilson. "And it is an enduring and unremitting pain."
'Make yourself of some use to this country'
During his apology to the family, Ibrahim told them that he couldn't control his actions the night Farah died because he was drunk, angry and with a bad crowd.
"I wasn't born yesterday," said Wilson in response. "Don't insult my intelligence or the intelligence of the surviving family members and friends."
At just 22-years-old, Wilson told Ibrahim — who has himself been shot — he has his whole life ahead of him.
"For god's sake, do something with it. Make yourself of some use to this country," Wilson said.
"We don't need more criminals and we certainly don't need more dead people."
Ibrahim will get two and a half years credit for the time he's already served.