Friend of teen killed in Halifax stabbing changes testimony [Video]

HALIFAX –

The trial for a Halifax youth accused of participating in the killing of a 16-year-old student last year heard Monday from one of the victim’s friends, but much of his testimony was debunked by a defence lawyer.

The 17-year-old accused, who can’t be identified, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of Ahmad Maher Al Marrach, who was stabbed outside the Halifax Shopping Centre on April 22.

The 15-year-old witness told the judge-only trial that Al Marrach had asked him via text message to gather some friends and head to the mall to watch him fight another boy.

“We told him not to fight,” the witness, a Grade 10 student, told youth court Judge Elizabeth Buckle. “He said, ‘No, I have to do this.”‘

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The Crown and defence agree that the accused did not stab Al Marrach, but the Crown has …