‘I feel I have died’: Mother whose son was killed recounts unbearable year of grief

This past year has been "unbearable" for the Al Marrach family, Al Jaji says as the court process continues for those who have been charged in the high-profile Halifax homicidee.

One hour after the first of four youths was handed a manslaughter sentence in connection to the death of 16-year-old Ahmad Al Marrach, his mother, Basima Al Jaji recounted how “unbearable” the last year has been for their family.

“Everything nice was in Ahmad,” Al Jaji said during an exclusive interview at the Halifax provincial courthouse on Thursday with the help of an interpreter. “I am not saying this because I’m his mom. But this is how Ahmad was. I cannot accept what has happened.”

Ahmad was a Grade 10 student in Halifax who had come to Canada with his family from Syria in 2016. In April 2024, he was attacked and stabbed in a parking garage next to the Halifax Shopping Centre and later died in hospital.

Four youths were eventually charged in connection with his death.

During victim impact statements in January, Al Jaji told the courtroom that Ahmad was a kind, compassionate boy who loved to please people around him.

Al Jaji said that her son had helped her raise his younger siblings — bathing them, dressing them, feeding them, putting them to sleep and caring for them when they were sick.

She said he would often take his siblings outside to play and bring them home little gifts after he got off school.

“He never came home empty-handed,” Al Jaji said in her statement. “He always brought something for his siblings. He used to come into the kitchen and ask me, ‘Mama, do you need help?'”