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THUNDER BAY — A man accused of murder in relation to the 2021 death of Steven Perry Burns is expected to testify in his own defence on Wednesday.
Khalid Ali Mohamed, of Toronto, is facing a second-degree murder charge in Burns’ death. He was also initially charged with obstructing a peace officer. However, that charge was withdrawn on Tuesday at the Thunder Bay Courthouse.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers were initially dispatched to a reported stabbing in the 200 block of Park Avenue around 9:35 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2021.
Burns was found with serious injuries and taken to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for treatment. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
A trial for Mohamed began the week of Oct. 28, 2024 and resumed on Tuesday after a week-long adjournment.
The Crown concluded its case around noon after hearing brief testimony from a Thunder Bay Police Service officer.
Det.-Const. Jordan Popowich told the court that on Oct. 18, 2021 he attended the Chronicle-Journal to obtain some property found in the area by newspaper staff.
Popowich said an employee gave him a bread knife and a piece of pipe.
The knife appeared to have a smeared substance on it, which looked like it had been previously wiped off, said Popowich.
Surveillance video from the exterior of the Chronicle-Journal building showed two individuals walking between the building and the Thunder Bay Fire Rescue station towards Cumberland Street. One individual can be seen tossing a piece of pipe onto the ground.
Defence lawyer Anthony Marchetti said he will be calling evidence beginning Wednesday morning and that Mohamed will be testifying.
None of the allegations against the accused have been proven in court.
