Teen convicted in fatal Dundas shooting of Abdalla Hassan sentenced to time-served

Three youth charged in the 2019 shooting death of Abdalla Hassan walked away free Friday.

One of the youth was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years - the maximum youth sentence for manslaughter - which he had already served while awaiting trial.

The youth was also ordered to provide DNA, is prohibited from carrying weapons for life and is subject to the forfeiture of the shotgun that killed Hassan.

I just want to say that I'm really sorry for what happened," said the 19-year-old said, standing at his seat beside his lawyer wearing a grey tracksuit.

All three youths, now 19, cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Hassan, a high school student who had moved with his family to Canada from Dubai in 2014, was found shot in the head in his family's car that had crashed in a wooded area off Patterson Road in rural Dundas, south of Clappison's Corners.

Reading from the agreed statement of facts, assistant Crown attorney Michael Dean said four teens were driving on Patterson Road in the 2018 Nissan Sentra, when the victim was shot. Hassan sat in the passenger seat, while another youth drove the car. The convicted teen sat behind the driver, the fourth boy beside him in the back seat, court heard.

The convicted teen had consumed marijuana and was in possession of an illegal firearm, Dean read.

Dean said the youth was holding the firearm when it discharged" and did not intend to shoot anyone."

The driver drove the vehicle into a wooded area and the teens attempted unsuccessfully to set it on fire before abandoning the vehicle.

A police officer and two civilians removed Hassan from the car, but he had already succumbed to his injuries.

Two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were later arrested walking out of the woods on York Road. A pat-down search revealed the 15-year-old was carrying a shotgun, and it was later determined Hassan's blood was on the barrel. The victim's blood was also found on the clothes of all three.

The convicted youth, then 15, is one of three teens originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 17-year-old on April 15, 2019. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a Hamilton courtroom Monday.

Charges for the other two teens were dismissed Friday.

Defence lawyer Jordana Goldist said her client was in custody for three years, six months and two days - longer than the maximum. In that time, he finished high school and participated in several programs, including safe food-handling, anger management, first aid and financial literacy, among others, she said.

He's certainly not the same individual he was," she said, adding that he has strong rehabilitative prospects.

It's my hope that you've learned from this and you'll take the skills that you've learned to become a productive member of society, someone your grandmother can be proud of," said Justice Paul Sweeny after delivering the sentence.

The youth left the courtroom Friday with family.

A family member of Hassan's, who did not want to be identified out of fear for their safety, said they are very angry." After waiting three years for justice for Hassan, they feel he never got it.

The impact on the family has been significant, they said.

I feel always anxious, depressed," the family member said Friday. I cannot live with this."

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com