Publication-ban breach charge against former N.S. sheriff’s deputy sent to restorative justice
HALIFAX, N.S. — A former sheriff’s deputy’s charge of violating a publication ban on the identity of a teenager who allegedly stabbed two staff members at a Bedford school has been referred to the province’s restorative justice program for resolution.
Ali Zaki Khairalla Al-Hindal, 30, of Bedford is accused of posting identifying information about the 15-year-old boy on social media March 20, the day of the stabbings at Charles P. Allen High School.
Al-Hindal faces one charge of breaching publication ban provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The charge was first in Halifax provincial court in June.
Defence lawyer Alex MacKillop appeared in court Thursday on behalf of Al-Hindal, who was not present.
MacKillop told the court that the Crown has agreed to send the case to restorative justice, a community-based process that allows people charged with criminal offences to take responsibility for their actions but avoid convictions.
If Al-Hindal completes the terms of the restorative justice process, the charge will be withdrawn by the Crown.
Judge Perry Borden scheduled the matter to return to court in December for a progress report.
Halifax Regional Police announced the charge against Al-Hindal on May 25, saying they were made aware in late March of social media posts in which the youth had been identified.
Al-Hindal is no longer employed by the Justice Department, a spokesman said in May.
Police responded to a weapons call at C.P. Allen on March 20 at about 9:20 a.m. A student had stabbed a vice-principal and an administrative assistant during an incident in the school’s main office.
The boy was arrested nearby about 10 minutes later. He is charged with two counts each of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and carrying a concealed weapon, and single counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a weapon knowing it was unauthorized and mischief.
The employees were taken to hospital with serious injuries but were stable after receiving treatment, police said. They were released from hospital within a few days.
The suspect, who allegedly harmed himself with a knife during the incident, was treated at hospital for non-life-threatening wounds.
The youth was ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment in April. The doctor who performed that assessment told the court the boy was mentally fit to stand trial.
The boy has pleaded not guilty to all charges and will stand trial in Halifax youth court over seven days next March and April.
The teen was granted bail following a contested hearing June 28. Judge Alan Tufts placed him on house arrest under the supervision of his parents, who pledged $100,000 to secure his release. He cannot possess any weapons, must not contact the two victims of the stabbings and is not to be within 25 metres of the school.
