Man charged with murder in 2024 Dartmouth hospital assault
Man’s Charge Upgraded to Second-Degree Murder Following Victim’s Death
Halifax Regional Police have recently upgraded charges against a 32-year-old man from aggravated assault to second-degree murder in connection with a tragic incident that occurred last year.
The incident took place on May 9, 2024, at the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Dartmouth, N.S., which is Nova Scotia’s sole secure mental health facility. Police were called to the hospital after a patient attacked another patient, resulting in serious injuries to the victim, identified as 69-year-old Allen Nickerson.
Following the assault, Mohamed Issak, 32, was initially charged with aggravated assault and was remanded back to the hospital for further evaluation. Sadly, Nickerson passed away on July 6 due to the injuries sustained during the attack.
After conducting a thorough investigation, the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service determined Nickerson’s death to be a homicide, leading to the upgraded charge of second-degree murder against Issak.
It is worth noting that Nickerson had previously been found not criminally responsible for the death of his mother, Margaret Nickerson, in 1994. He was under the care of the East Coast Forensic Hospital, which offers rehabilitation programs for individuals deemed unfit to stand trial by the justice system.
In 2016, Issak himself was found not criminally responsible for assault charges due to a mental disorder.
During a court appearance in Nova Scotia Provincial Court, Crown prosecutor Scott Morrison mentioned that Issak has not yet been apprehended on the murder charge and is currently undergoing treatment for his mental health issues. Morrison highlighted Issak’s unstable mental state and the challenges of managing his care between the hospital and the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Centre.
The case is set to return to court on Feb. 14, with Issak’s legal proceedings ongoing.
