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THUNDER BAY — A Toronto man who came to Thunder Bay to make “life-changing” money selling drugs has been found not guilty of second-degree murder.
On Monday in a Thunder Bay courtroom, Khalid Mohamed, 28, was found not guilty by means of self-defence in the death of Steve Burns.
Burns, 36, was fatally stabbed on Oct. 27, 2021 in the 200 block of Park Avenue after he and two other men had robbed Mohamed of drugs, cash and jewelry.
During a trial held in November of last year, Mohamed detailed how he came to Thunder Bay to sell drugs after another individual had told him they made $2 million in the city in just two years selling drugs.
He had been selling drugs out of an apartment near the casino in the downtown north core when he was robbed and assaulted by Burns and the two other individuals. He testified he didn’t care about the drugs and money that were stolen, but the jewelry that was taken from him had sentimental value.
After trying to stop the men from leaving the apartment with his jewelry and being assaulted further, Mohamed pursued Burns, eventually catching up with him outside of the casino. The two struggled and Burns had a knife.
“It wasn’t an accidental stabbing,” Mohamed had previously testified. “I meant to stab him to get him to let go of me. I did not intend to kill him. I intended to honestly defend myself . . . to keep the knife out of his hands so I could get out of the situation.”
When delivering his judgement, Justice Danial Newton said he found Mohamed not guilty of second-degree murder, not by provocation, but because Mohamed believed was defending himself.
Witnesses corroborated much of Mohamed’s testimony, including the fact he asked Burns for his stuff back and to let go of him.
Witnesses also never saw Mohamed with a knife while he was pursuing Burns and that Mohamed only fell on top of Burns when Burns stumbled and fell.
Justice Newton also said the use of force used by Burns was life-threatening and he accepted Mohamed’s statement of thinking if he didn’t get the knife from Burns, he would be dead.
Mohamed had been in custody since his arrest in 2021 and was set to be released following Monday’s judgement.
